Macron offers 'immediate operational aid' to Australia

Australia: Fires Continue To Move, Kills 24 - 20 Minutes

Emmanuel Macron announced that he had offered "immediate operational aid" from France to Australia on Sunday to fight the fires which ravage the country and which left 24 dead. "Solidarity with the Australian people in the face of the fires ravaging their country," wrote the President of the Republic in two tweets 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 preserve biodiversity," he said.

24th victim

Australian authorities said on Sunday that unprecedented wildfires that have been devastating entire regions of the country for several months have left a 24th victim and "considerable damage". Hundreds of properties were destroyed and a man died on Saturday, during one of the worst days since the fires started in September.

On Thursday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his head of government castigated Emmanuel Macron's "silence" over the deadly fires in Australia. Critics of the French president during the fires in the Amazon in August and September last had been very badly received in Brasilia and caused a diplomatic quarrel between Brazil and France which was not settled.

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VIDEO. Australia: Fires continue to progress, kill 24th

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