Indonesian local governments hold prayers to combat drought and forest fires

Local governments in Indonesia are turning to spiritual measures to combat the effects of a prolonged dry season. In Banjarbaru, the city government held Istisqa prayers—a communal prayer for rain—at dr. Murdjani Field. The event, attended by hundreds of civil servants and led by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Banjarbaru, aims to address severe drought, drying water sources, and the impact of forest and land fires that have caused smoke haze.

Similarly, the Bangka Tengah Regency government is planning to hold Istisqa prayers as part of a dual approach to the climate cycle. Vice Regent Efrianda stated that while physical efforts to mitigate the two-month-long drought are being maximized, spiritual efforts are necessary to complement these actions. Both regions report that the dry weather has led to cracked earth, wilting crops, and health concerns due to air quality issues caused by fires.