From the BBC:
“Australia fires: How the world
has responded to the crisis”
The world has watched with horror
as bushfires have torn across Australia, leaving a trail of destruction in
their wake. The blazes have razed almost 2,000 homes, and killed at least 25
people and hundreds of millions of animals since they began in September. People in Australia and abroad, including
politicians and celebrities, have been eager to find ways to offer assistance
and support. But authorities have warned that some kinds of help can actually
be a hindrance and overwhelm fire-affected communities. Here are some of the
ways that the world has responded to Australia's bushfire crisis, and what help
those responding to the crisis say is needed.
Creative fundraising: Many people
have made financial donations to help with the response to the crisis. One fundraiser for fire services in New South
Wales (NSW), launched by Australian comedian Celeste Barber, raised more than
A$20m (£10.6m; $13m) in just 48 hours. It's now topped A$30m, with donations
from more than 1.1 million people. Big business in Australia has also pledged
significant contributions. Some of the biggest sums offered to the relief
efforts have come from celebrities. US singer Pink, Australian pop star Kylie
Minogue, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, British singer Elton John and
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth are among those to make major donations. Others have taken a more unusual approach. Australian
cricket great Shane Warne was set to raise more than A$300,000 for the
Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund by auctioning off his
prized "baggy green" Test cap. British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge,
meanwhile, said she would auction off the suit she wore to the Golden Globes to
raise money for relief efforts. Australian
tennis player Nick Kyrgios, known for his powerful serve, said he would donate
A$200 for every ace he hit at every tournament he entered in January. He wasn't
the only tennis player to chip in. Ashleigh Barty, the Australian world number
one, said she would donate all her prize money from the Brisbane International
- which offers a pot of nearly A$1.5m. Maria Sharapova said on Twitter she
would donate A$25,000, and Novak Djokovic later matched the pledge. And then there's the California-based
Instagram model Kaylen Ward, who claimed to have raised more than half a
million dollars by offering nude photos of herself in exchange for proof of
charitable donations.
Food and goods: Fire-ravaged communities have also been
inundated with donations of toys, food, clothes and furniture. But officials
have warned that such generosity can sometimes cause problems. A spokesman for
the state of New South Wales' Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said the
deluge of goods could potentially spark a "second disaster". "Unfortunately,
what usually happens is local communities become overwhelmed very quickly with
donated goods," Jeremy Hillman told broadcaster ABC, adding that donations
can clog up halls used for recovery meetings. Officials said communities in Victoria had
the same problem - and that those wanting to help should do so financially,
whether through donations or direct spending in affected towns. "We do not
need any more food, we do not need any more clothes. Give money… support the
local businesses and the communities," the state's Police and Emergency
Services Minister Lisa Neville was reported as saying. Thousands of social
media users have called on people to travel to fire-affected areas once the
blazes are over. Using the hashtag #GoWithEmptyEskies, referring to portable
coolers, they are urging people to spend money on hotels, food, fuel, drink and
other supplies to help rebuild local economies in the wake of the crisis. "Go
with empty eskies, empty cars and low fuel… Beyond rebuilding, they need
continued and long term support to get back on their feet and your empty esky
makes more of a difference than you could ever imagine," said a Facebook
post, which has been shared more than 36,000 times.
Messages of support: Actors
Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett used their Golden Globes speeches to highlight
Australia's bushfire crisis and climate change. "When one country is facing a climate
disaster, we are all facing a climate disaster," Blanchett said. Many
celebrities have posted statements on social media, urging their followers to
make donations. Australian actress Margot Robbie posted an emotional appeal on
Instagram, sharing pictures of her childhood to show "how beautiful our
country is". World leaders have also offered their support. French
President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister
Boris Johnson were among those to call Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
to express solidarity. Fijian Prime
Minister Frank Bainimarama said he had written to Mr Morrison offer assistance
"in any way we can". Members of the Royal Family said their
"thoughts and prayers" were with those affected by the massive fires.
Extra firefighters and troops: Most of those battling Australia's fires are
unpaid volunteers, thousands of people who have given up their time and risked
their lives to help deal with the crisis. "We're doing it because it's a
passion, it's a brotherhood," one volunteer firefighter told the BBC. Many countries have offered assistance,
including firefighters, helicopters, troops and money. In a tweet, Mr Morrison thanked the US, New
Zealand, Canada and Singapore for their support on the ground. The tiny Pacific island nation of Vanuatu
pledged almost A$250,000 to "assist bushfire victims". Acting Prime
Minister Jotham Napat described Australia as a "Pacific neighbour and
friend" and said Vanuatu would "offer whatever assistance we can in
this time of need, as Australia has always done in ours". Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister James Marape said about 1,000 soldiers and firefighters
"stand ready to be deployed" at Mr Morrison's invitation.
Knitting blankets: People around
the world have also been knitting blankets and protective pouches for animals
which have lost their homes in the crisis. The Animal Rescue Craft Guild told
Reuters news agency it had been inundated with offers to make items including
bat wraps, koala mitten and animal beds. On the guild's Facebook page, people from
countries including Canada, the US and UK posted messages about their efforts.
^ I think it’s long over-due that
the whole world does what it can to help Australia. I’m glad to see Governments,
celebrities and ordinary people from across the globe offer donations and signs
of support to the humans and animals affected by the fires in Australia. ^
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