Australia: population and biodiversity trapped by the flames, solidarity is organized

At least 24 dead, and almost half a billion animals already missing. The day after a particularly violent day, the Australian authorities evaluated, Sunday, January 5, the "considerable damage" caused by the very serious forest fires which devastate the south-east of the country.

The day before, hundreds of properties were destroyed again, and a man died while trying to save a friend's house.

"We cannot say that we have already experienced this," said Gladys Berejiklian, the Prime Minister of this state, whose capital is Sydney. "Several villages that had never experienced the threat of forest fires risk being completely wiped out."

A state of emergency has been declared in the south-east of the country, which is also its most densely populated area. More than 100,000 people were evacuated to three states on Friday.

Pools to help the fire department ...

More than 6 million hectares, twice the size of Belgium, have been burned since September across the huge island continent.

In comparison, nearly 2.5 million hectares went up in smoke in August in the Amazon, the largest tropical forest in the world. Faced with the unprecedented severity of the crisis, solidarity is organized. Personalities have committed or have already raised millions of dollars to support firefighters and communities affected by the fires.

A promise to donate up to US $ 500,000 was made by the American singer Pink. Originally from Australia, actress Nicole Kidman made the same pledge. "The support, thoughts and prayers of our family go out to everyone affected by the fires across Australia," she wrote on Instagram. The image accompanying the text represents a list of links to fundraising for firefighters and the victims of these fires.

Among them, a pot for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW Rural Fire Service), for the QLD Fire and Rescue, the Volunteer-Based Fire Service (SA Country Fire Service), the Victoria Fire Department, Vic Country Fire Authority, Tasmania Fire Department, and Western Australia.

View this post on Instagram

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.

A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman) on Jan 4, 2020 at 3:10 pm PST

And so that the solidarity movement continues to spread, other personalities, like the tenniswoman Ashleigh Barty, are mobilizing by launching fundraisers or in the form of donations. The Australian champion has also announced that she will donate all the winnings she will collect to the Brisbane tournament to the Australian Red Cross.

... and save the animals

Trapped by the flames, more than 480 million animals may have died in the fires that ravage southeast Australia, according to a study from the University of Sydney. A balance sheet which, according to several specialists, could be considerably higher.

True emblem of the country, the koala saw more than 8,000 individuals perish because of the flames. Almost 30% of the koalas are said to have perished. And many other species are also affected.

Animal welfare clinics and associations have also made appeals for donations and set up pots to help them collect and care for animals saved from fires. Among them, pots are available on WWF sites, or on fundraising from the hospital for koalas in Port Macquarie.

For your viewing pleasure. Meet The Ruins Way Bazza who was severely burnt in the fires and is healing really well. ...

Emmanuel Macron offers "immediate operational assistance"

For his part, Emmanuel Macron announced that he had offered "immediate operational assistance" from France to Australia to fight the fires.

"Solidarity with the Australian people in the face of the fires ravaging their country," wrote the President of the Republic on Twitter, in two messages in French and in English.

Solidarity with the Australian people in the face of the fires ravaging their country. This morning, I called @ScottMorrisonMP to offer our immediate operational assistance to fight fires, protect people and preserve biodiversity.

"This morning, I called" Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison "to offer our immediate operational assistance to fight fires, protect people and conserve biodiversity," he said.

On Thursday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his head of government castigated Emmanuel Macron's "silence" over the deadly fires in Australia.

Queen Elizabeth II sent a message of condolence on Sunday to the Governor General of Australia, his representative in the country, in which she says she is "deeply saddened" by the fires. She also wanted to thank the emergency services "which put their own lives in danger" for helping the population. Of the 24 victims identified to date, three were firefighters.

Fires are common in Australia in the spring and summer. This season, however, they are particularly precocious and virulent, in particular due to even more favorable conditions for fires due to global warming.

With AFP

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