VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The number of hotspots in the provinces of Riau, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan have declined on Sunday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

A spokesman of the BNPB Agus Wibowo said in a statement here on Sunday, the number of hotspots in Riau has declined to 29, from 126  detected on Saturday (Aug 10).

The agency has also detected a declining number of hotspots in South Kalimantan from 41 to 14, East Kalimantan from 23 to 20, and in North Kalimantan from 29 to 23.

However, in some other provinces, the number of hotspots has increased, such as in West Kalimantan where it increased 27 to 605 and in Central Kalimantan where it increased four to 163.

Jambi has recorded an increase in the number of hotspots to three, South Sumatra to 19, and Bangka Belitung increased 10 to 14.

BNPB said, haze has shrouded Sumatra and Kalimantan regions, though it was not descending over Malaysia and Singapore.

Pekanbaru was still blanketed by haze with visibility of five kilometers, while the visibility in Jambi (cloudy) is 9 km, Palembang (cloudy) 10 km, Pontianak (smoky) 5 km, Pangkalan Bun (cloudy) 9 km, Palangkaraya (smoky) 5 km, Sanggu-Buntok (smoky) 4 km, Banjarmasin (cloudy) 10 km, and Tanjung Harapan - Tanjung Selor (smoky) 5 km.

The air quality based on the concentration of particulate matter (PM10) showed unhealthy air quality in Pekanbaru with PM10 concentration 166, Pontianak with 253 PM10 or very unhealthy, Palangkaraya 217 (very unhealthy), and Sampit 26 (healthy)

On Sunday, 9,072 personnel of the joint task force that comprise of the BNPB, the military, police, regional mitigation agency (BPBD), and local residents have continued to put out the fire in six provinces namely Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Several Muslim refugees from Afghanistan and Sudan expressed their yearnings of celebrating Eid Al-Adha (the Islamic Day of Sacrifice) at homes.

Shakila, an Afghan national, during an interview at the refugee temporary shelter in Kalideres, Jakarta, Sunday, said that every Eid Al-Adha Day, she and her family would visit relatives, sit together for a feast, and wear new clothes.

She further stated every Eid Al-Adha at home in Afghanistan, her family slaughtered at least five cattle as its price was affordable. After slaying the mammals, Shakila and her family cooked the meat with Afghan's traditional recipes.

However, none of the traditions were performed as Shakila now had to live in a temporary center at a facility owned by military command in Kalideres, West Jakarta for at least four years.

She and other foreign refugees now still awaited to be relocated to a permanent country by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  (UNHCR).

Not far from Shakila, a foreign refugee  from Sudan, Adam Ali also missed celebrating Eid Al-Adha at home. "After praying and asking for forgiveness to family members, I visited their homes, and they paid a visit as well," Ali stated.

Differed with Shakila who was used to purchase the cattle during the holy day, Ali was used to slay the cattle he raised by himself.

"We raised dozens lambs," Ali shortly recalled his memory celebrating Eid Al-Adha in Sudan.

Nevertheless, Ali, his wife and his baby along with other 1,000 foreign refugees had to stop performing their usual traditions during Eid Al-Adha Day, as they had been displaced from their homes and separated from their relatives due to the wars and humanitarian conflicts.

The Bogor district administration will organize the Halimun Youth Camp 2019 (HYCamp2019) on August 24-25, this year, to celebrate Indonesia's National Day and promote Mount Halimun as a tourist destination globally.

Hiking to Mount Halimun located inside the Mount Halimun Salak National Park will enliven the event, Alfisa Triatmoko of the HYCamp 2019 Organizing Committee, stated here on Monday.

"This event, involving foreign participants, is aimed at promoting ecotourism in Bogor," he told Antara.

The HYCamp will encourage the younger generation to care for nature and help preserve the environment, he added.

"There will be several benefits for the participants of the HYCamp, as they will also indulge themselves in the amazing scenery of Mount Halimun," he remarked.

Among tourist attractions on Mount Halimun and in its surrounding areas are the Nirmala tea plantation, 34 waterfalls, rice terraces, and unique local traditions and culture.

The HYCamp 2019 is for youngsters in the age group of 16 and 30 years, and the registration is free and open from August 6 to 19, 2019.

Further information can be obtained on Instagram @hycamp2019, and Facebook Page @halimunyouthcamp.

Halimun in Sundanese language means mist. The upper section of Mount Halimun, in the north area, is almost always covered by mist with a soaring elevation of 1,929 meters.

Traveling to the highlands will offer visitors an opportunity to take in the refreshing, cool air and experience up-close the sprawling fertile greenery.

Established in 1992, the national park has been a protected habitat for the endangered West Java gibbons and the Javan lutung (Trachypithecus auratus), also known as the ebony lutung and Javan langur, which is a monkey belonging to the Colobinae sub-family. (ANTARA)

The ASEAN's Foundation for Orphans Education (Yawatim ASEAN) has initiated the development of University of Anak Yatim ASEAN  in Pekanbaru,  capital of Riau province, to provide free higher education for orphans in the region.

"Insya Allah (God willing), the groundbreaking ceremony will be held on August 24, and attended by the Indonesian religious affairs minister and representatives of ASEAN member countries," Riau Governor Syamsuar said Pekanbaru, Riau on Sunday.

The university will be built on  100 hectares of waqf (endowment) land contributed by local residents. Parts of its campus will also be built in Kampar District, some 100 km from Pekanbaru, Syamsuar said.

Yawatim ASEAN has affiliated with Yawatim Malaysia which has helped orphans in the country study at the University College Bestari of Terengganu.

In addition to the development of the university for orphans, Yawatim ASEAN  also plans to establish a long-distance class for orphans and poor children in the region.

The foundation has prepared Rp13 billion, collected from individuals' cash waqf, for the first stage of the construction.

According to Syamsuar he has received confirmation from some representatives of ASEAN member countries to attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Pekanbaru. (ANTARA)