17 Jan 2020

Palau urges people to support Australia fires appeal

8:53 am on 17 January 2020

The Office of the President of Palau has appealed to the island's people to get behind an appeal created to support communities devastated by the Australian bushfires.

A firefighter walks past burning trees during a battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales on December 31, 2019.

Photo: AFP

Since November, more than 15 million hectares of land has burnt resulting in more than 3000 homes destroyed and 28 deaths.

In addition, over a billion animals have perished.

In response, the Office of the President and the Palau Red Cross Society have organised an emergency relief fundraiser with monetary donations to be sent to Australia.

The Red Cross will continue to accept donations until 24 January.

Earlier this month, Papua New Guinea launched a similar appeal with $US36,000 of corporate money already donated and a goal of $US1.5m.

Vanuatu's government has sent $US175,000 in assistance to Australia.