Indonesia, Sept. 10 -- Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka pledged Thursday to provide personal protective equipment to volunteers fighting forest and land fires in South Kalimantan.

Gibran made the pledge during a working visit after university students raised concerns about severe shortages of safety equipment among civilian firefighters.

During a dialogue, students urged the government to prioritize field volunteers' welfare while pursuing long-term measures to address the province's recurring annual fires.

Gibran expressed appreciation for volunteers' efforts and said the government would provide protective equipment to help safeguard them while they work on the front lines.

He ordered local authorities to immediately...