When Smoke Crosses Borders: Indonesia's 2026 Forest Fires Become a Regional Crisis

More Than Another Fire Season

Forest and land fires returned to Indonesia in 2026, with haze affecting neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. Reuters reported that cumulative burned land reached approximately 1.92 million hectares by the end of September, according to Nusantara Atlas satellite data—exceeding the figure recorded during the same period in 2019.

When Haze Becomes a Regional Crisis

The consequences extend beyond forest destruction. Air pollution threatens public health, disrupts daily activities, and creates diplomatic tensions with neighbouring countries. Although ASEAN has a framework for addressing transboundary haze, its effectiveness depends on prevention and meaningful action on the ground.

When Disaster Prevention Budgets Come Under Scrutiny

The crisis has unfolded as Indonesia's disaster preparedness capacity faces renewed scrutiny. In 2026, the budget of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) was cut from approximately Rp2.01 trillion to Rp491 billion, amid government austerity measures intended to fund other priorities.

The budget reduction does not, by itself, prove that the fires worsened because of insufficient funding. The government has stated that additional funds for wildfire response are available when needed and formally requested. Nevertheless, the situation raises an important question: is funding for prevention, preparedness, and emergency response sufficient as disaster risks continue to grow?

A Crisis That Should Not Be Normalised

Dry weather and El Niño can intensify fire risks, but land governance, peatland protection, monitoring, and law enforcement also influence the outcome. Managing wildfires requires more than extinguishing flames after they have spread.

When smoke crosses national borders, its consequences become a regional concern. Indonesia and its ASEAN neighbours must ensure that disaster prevention is not overshadowed by other government spending priorities.