My heart is breaking watching the footage of the massive fires that have ravaged 13 million acres and more than 1,500 homes in Australia. Officials say 24 people have died nationwide this fire season.
Fire front south of Buchan on Monday. Nothing stopping this one. pic.twitter.com/tuPSAWVrTg
— Glen MOREY (@somers3927) January 1, 2020
An estimated 480 million animals have died.
Almost a third of koalas in NSW may have been killed in the fires, and a third of their habitat has been destroyed, said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Warning this video contains sensitive material. Viewer discretion is advised.
Half a billion animals are dead by now. Australia is burning. #AustralianBushfire is real. The loss of lives and damage to the property is beyond imagination. It’s devastating. Please pray for Australia 🙏 #AustralianFires #AustraliaOnFire pic.twitter.com/6xQhN9R9x8
— Gunjan Mehta ✨ (@gunjanm_) January 4, 2020
How can you help?
The NSW Rural Fire Service is now accepting donations on its website to help staff more volunteer firefighters.
This photo of an exhausted firefighter is heartbreaking. He curled up on his front lawn for five minutes before returning to battle the fire threatening his home. His daughter shared the image online. “These firefighters need our support more than ever!” 📷: Jenna O’keeffe pic.twitter.com/8TShpJf12K
— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) January 6, 2020
The Australian Red Cross is accepting donations that go toward bushfire victim recovery. It’s also collecting clothing and “small homewares,” which can be donated to Red Cross shops.
Koalas are uniquely at risk during these kind of bushfires. While kangaroos and other native Australian animals can move quickly and escape more easily, koalas are slower. Because of this, they are dying en masse. According to Newsweek, experts estimate 8,000 koalas in New South Wales alone have died in this season’s fires because they could not escape.
The World Wildlife Fund is accepting donations for conservation efforts, with specific focus on koalas. Any money you give can help with emergency koala care. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is also accepting donations via a GoFundMe page.
To help the animals and wildlife more generally, including kangaroos, pets fleeing, and native fauna, here are a couple of other options:
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RSPCA started a “bushfire appeal” to help protect pets and livestock from Australian fires, and you can donate to it here.
For more information click here.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have pledged to donate $500,000 to help battle the fire.
On Instagram, the couple posted, “Our family’s support, thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia. We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now.”
Randy Houser, whose wife Tatiana, is also Australian asked for help as well saying
Let’s come together; please help in any way you can! Praying for all of our Aussie friends and family
