Jakarta, (Antara) - In response to a request from the Indonesian Government, the Australian Government stands ready to deploy a Lockheed L100 Hercules Air Tanker to help fight forest fires in Indonesia.
The fires are creating hazardous conditions in at least six Indonesian provinces and over 135,000 Indonesians have been affected by respiratory illnesses. The fires have continued to worsen due to drought conditions across Indonesia, according to the Australian Embassy here on its official website on Saturday.
"The Prime Minister and I extend our thanks to the New South Wales Government and its Rural Fire Service for their agreement to release the aircraft and an expert crew for deployment to Indonesia," Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop was quoted as saying by the embassy.
While Australia has experienced a dramatic start to the bushfire season, a lull in severe weather conditions has meant, "We can assist Indonesia and still maintain national aerial fire fighting coverage," Bishop said.
She added, "Our Federal and State governments understand the social and economic impact from bushfires and are ready to support our Indonesian neighbours in this time of need." (*)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2015
The fires are creating hazardous conditions in at least six Indonesian provinces and over 135,000 Indonesians have been affected by respiratory illnesses. The fires have continued to worsen due to drought conditions across Indonesia, according to the Australian Embassy here on its official website on Saturday.
"The Prime Minister and I extend our thanks to the New South Wales Government and its Rural Fire Service for their agreement to release the aircraft and an expert crew for deployment to Indonesia," Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop was quoted as saying by the embassy.
While Australia has experienced a dramatic start to the bushfire season, a lull in severe weather conditions has meant, "We can assist Indonesia and still maintain national aerial fire fighting coverage," Bishop said.
She added, "Our Federal and State governments understand the social and economic impact from bushfires and are ready to support our Indonesian neighbours in this time of need." (*)
Editor : Chandra Hamdani Noer
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2015