Timor-Leste Faces Haze: Schools Closed Amidst Air Quality Crisis
DILI, Timor-Leste – As the sun peeked through a thick layer of haze on Thursday, Timor-Leste found itself facing an urgent environmental crisis. The government declared a three-day school closure due to the suffocating pollution drifting across the skies from raging forest fires in neighboring Indonesia.
In the capital city of Dili, residents moved about their daily lives, but not without precautions. Clad in masks, many wandered under a yellow-tinged sky, a grim reminder of the air quality crisis that’s gripped the region. This decision to close schools was met with relief by many, particularly parents who felt the weight of the air’s toxicity on their children.
Sonya da Costa Soares, a 30-year-old midwife, expressed her concerns: “Recently, the pollution in Dili has been very severe. We can’t see the sun; the pollution is heavy.” Though her child is too young for school, she told AFP that keeping students home was essential, stating it’s “very important so that children are not put in danger.”
Indonesia’s forest fires are not new; they occur regularly during the dry season. However, this year is different. The powerful El Niño has intensified the drought, leading to devastating fires that have ravaged hundreds of thousands of hectares across Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua. The repercussions have been felt far beyond Indonesia, with air quality deteriorating in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and of course, Timor-Leste.
On Wednesday, the Timor-Leste government announced the closure of schools to protect the health of students, teachers, and the entire educational community. They urged families to keep children indoors and advised everyone to wear masks when venturing outside.
Despite the chaos, students like 18-year-old Vitaliano da Costa Calapes remain focused on their studies. “We are staying at home, but we are continuing to study,” he said, reflecting the determination of youth facing final exams. “We hope that in the coming days, the pollution will clear and school will return to normal.”
Felicidade Alves dos Santos Martins, whose daughter Febrianti was forced to stay home from school, described the intensity of the pollution earlier in the week. “It felt like smoke from the fires was covering all of Dili and the mountains,” she shared with a worried tone. “This pollution is very dangerous; it can make us sick.”
As the days unfold, hope and resilience shine through the haze. The community stands united, hoping for clearer skies and healthier days ahead. For now, they navigate this adversity one mask at a time, standing strong in the face of nature’s challenges.
