"We are asking your excellencies to kindly consider the allocation of emergency budgets in your respective countries to tackle causes of this regional threat," the university said in a letter to the ministers, who were in Chiang Mai for the 11th Asean Finance Ministers Meeting over the past two days.

The letter was signed by Dr Daoroong Kangwanpong, CMU vice president for research.

It said more than 64,800 patients had suffered respiratory problems between March 15 and March 26, when haze hit the North. It also hit tourism, with the economic loss in Chiang Mai alone estimated at Bt2 billion.

"In the long run, the loss may be higher if the problem remains unsolved," the letter warned. It said that forest fires took place in many areas across Southeast Asia and thus Asean countries should consider allocating emergency funds to the problem.

The funds could be spent on educating people about the seriousness of haze, developing proper waste management and providing alternatives to farmers who have to burn areas of forest for farms, the letter said.

Meanwhile, locals in Mae Hong Son's Mae Sariang district have consecrated 109 rai of forest in an area designated as a fish sanctuary. They said trees in the consecrated forest would be considered holy, which would deter people from cutting them down.

Daeng Poonnoi, head of Ban Pa Kluay village in Mae Sariang, said protecting the trees through consecration would increase moisture levels and prevent forest fires.