Franciscans call for solidarity as haze from Indonesian fires blankets Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE — As smoke from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia blanketed Singapore this month, parishioners at the Church of the Holy Family turned to a prayer written by one of their own.

“As you calmed the winds and the waves on the Sea of Galilee, we humbly ask ...” the prayer begins, before asking Jesus to clear the haze from the region. It was prayed at a faith formation session at the parish on Oct. 13.

At 7 p.m. on Oct. 16, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index stood at 225 in Singaporeʼs central region, with three of the city-stateʼs five regions in the “very unhealthy” range, according to the National Environment Agency. The same day, Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said some of the haze had come from fires on the lands of seven companies in Indonesia, which would receive preventive measure notices under Singaporeʼs Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

Men load a water tank onto a pickup truck to bring clean water to communities affected by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Friar Taucen Girsang, OFM

Reports from Kalimantan The haze was discussed at the assembly of the Franciscan Network for Peace…