Ms Chua Ann Na, 68, and her husband were one of 40 families in Nee Soon to receive some 200 N95 masks given out by Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah and her grassroots team yesterday.

Worries about an impending haze situation have emerged as the current dry spell exacerbates fires set to clear land for farming in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Two weeks ago, the number of hotspots surged to 458, although the National Environmental Agency assured Singaporeans that the possibility of haze in here was low as long as the prevailing wind is from the North-East.

But it is better to be safe than sorry, said residents.

The mask distribution was also accompanied by a litter-picking event, which saw about 250 Nee Soon residents picking litter, such as drink cans and flyers from their void decks yesterday.