After months of severe drought and multiple summer days hitting record-breaking temperatures, Australia has been fighting catastrophic bushfires, with towers of fiery red scorching through beautiful coastlines, heritage-listed bushland and country townships, wreaking devastation and leaving many families without a home.
Alongside temperatures hitting the high-30s and even mid-40s with hot, gusty winds to match, the east coast of has been blanketed in smoke for weeks, with each day ending in an awe-inducing smokey-apocalyptic-looking sunset and pale white ash falling from the sky.
Across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, hundreds of homes and farms have been destroyed, leaving many people displaced over the holiday season. In New South Wales alone, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service says over 3 million hectares of the state has burned and a total of 916 homes had been destroyed, with another 363 damaged.
In Victoria, there are more than 2,000 emergency services personnel fighting the current 33 fires that are burning through 400,000 hectares across the state. Over 200 homes have been destroyed and thousands left without power.
To help out those affected by the Australian bushfires, including our native animals, pets and livestock, we’ve compiled a list of charities and organisations you can donate to. Monetary donations are the best way to help support the volunteers on the frontline as well as those providing food, shelter and necessities to those who've lost everything, so if you’re wondering what you can do to help, it’s time to dig deep.
Here's where you can donate to:
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- Foundation For National Parks And Wildlife Emergency Appeal
- WIRES Bushfire Emergency Appeal
- Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery
- Salvation Army Bushfire Disaster Appeal
- The Vinnies Bushfire Appeal
- RSPCA Bushfire Appeal
- Queensland Government GIVIT Bushfire Appeal
- Koalas In Care
- Bottles For The Bush
- Taronga's Emergency Koala Appeal
- Science For Wildlife Emergency Bushfire Appeal For Koalas
- WWF Australia Bushfire And Koala Appeal
For more information from the RFS, check here.
Image credit: Getty