Jakarta Zakat Agency Launches Emergency Relief as Haze Chokes Palangka Raya

The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) in Jakarta has prepared four emergency programs to help residents of Palangka Raya affected by severe haze. The agency announced the relief effort on Thursday, as thick smoke from forest and land fires continues to blanket the Central Kalimantan city. The four programs target the most urgent needs of affected residents, though the agency did not specify the exact aid packages in its initial announcement. Baznas is a government-backed body that collects and distributes Islamic alms (zakat) to those in need. The agency often mobilizes during natural disasters and public health emergencies. Haze from annual land-clearing fires is a recurring crisis in parts of Indonesia, causing respiratory illness and disrupting daily life across the region.