Relief and Donations Needed For The Australian Fires
Australia is being engulfed by the most devastating bushfire seasons the country has ever seen. As of 6 January 2020, at least 22 people are dead and more than 1500 homes have been destroyed as fires continue to burn through more than six-million hectares of land across Australia.
The fires even captured the spotlight at the Golden Globes on Sunday night in Los Angeles. Australian actor Russell Crowe, who was one of the winners, was absent as he stayed at home in New South Wales with his family preparing for the latest fiery conditions.
Jennifer Aniston read a statement on his behalf: “Make no mistake the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate-change based. We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is.”
Other celebrities – including Patricia Arquette, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ellen DeGeneres and Chris Hemsworth – also spoke about the Australian bushfires, and urged viewers and the public to donate.
If you want to help out and contribute, here is a list of organisations that are aiding those affected by the fires:
You can help WWF-Australia get emergency funds to care for our injured wildlife, and when the fires clear, help restore the forest homes our koalas and other animals have lost.
The hospital is taking donations to distribute drinking water stations in areas burned by wildfire, as well as to establish a wild koala breeding program.
By some estimates, more than 8,000 koalas may have been killed by the fires. In addition to longer-term projects, the hospital is working on locating koalas, and bringing them into the hospital to be rehydrated and treated for burns.
New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc. (WIRES)
Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization, WIRES is actively seeking emergency donations to increase its capacity to help animals in the midst of the bushfires.
The Red Cross shares that it has helped more than 18,600 people affected by fires and heat waves since July. Their teams are focused on supporting Australians at evacuation centers and providing “psychological first aid” to abate trauma.
The organisation is collecting donations to build “child friendly spaces,” where kids can play together and talk about their experiences in a supportive environment. Having these spaces helps the children get past the trauma, at the same time allowing parents to focus on recovering and rebuilding what they’ve lost, from belongings to homes.
The NSW RFS has established official dedicated funds for the young families of Samuel McPaul, Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who lost their lives battling fires this season.
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Source: The Guardian, PBS
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