Australia’s biggest media organisations have rallied behind the humanitarian response to catastrophic flooding and landslides along the Nepal-China border, helping drive more than $3.8 million in donations in just 72 hours.
The Joint Appeal, coordinated through the Emergency Action Alliance (EAA), has received significant editorial support across Australia’s media industry, with the ABC, SBS, FreeTV and Commercial Radio & Audio members, News Corp Australia and Guardian Australia among the broadcasters and publishers directing audiences towards the appeal.
The media support has provided the appeal with widespread on-air and online exposure as communities across remote mountain regions continue to deal with the aftermath of devastating flash floods and landslides.
More than 3,000 people are missing as search and rescue operations continue, while thousands more are in urgent need of shelter, food, clean water, medical assistance and other essential supplies.
Public donations to the EAA have now passed $1.8 million, with the Australian Government also increasing its contribution from $1 million to $2 million.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Dr Anne Aly announced the additional $1 million contribution last night, taking the total raised through the Joint Appeal to more than $3.8 million.
EAA Executive Director Kerren Morris said the response from Australians had demonstrated the importance of having trusted organisations, including the media, directing people towards a single appeal.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped to raise awareness of the Joint Appeal,” Morris said.
“Australians are asking how to help and it has been tremendous to see the Australian media direct people to the Joint Appeal as a trusted way of ensuring funds get where they are most needed.”
Morris said the appeal also provided Australians with confidence that their donations would reach organisations already operating in affected communities.
“When Australians give through the Joint Appeal, they can be confident their donation is going to organisations with a genuine, longstanding presence in the region — 13 of our 15 member agencies are already responding on the ground right now,” she said.
The appeal also highlights the role of the media industry in humanitarian crises, with public broadcasters, commercial broadcasters, radio networks and major publishers using their platforms to help connect audiences with aid organisations.
The EAA said administration costs had been kept to no more than 10 per cent of funds raised for running the appeal and associated costs, with the majority of donations going towards the disaster response.
Morris said the scale of the crisis remained immense.
“Over the past three days, Australians have once again shown their willingness to stand with people facing crisis, and we are encouraging them to give with confidence through the Joint Appeal,” she said.
“Australians have been deeply moved by the devastating stories emerging from Nepal. Their donations will help trusted aid agencies deliver urgent assistance to communities affected by last week’s catastrophic flash floods.
“The scale of the need is immense, but every donation will help provide lifesaving support to people who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.”
The charities responding as part of the Joint Appeal are Save the Children Australia, Plan International Australia, Oxfam Australia, ActionAid Australia, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, ADRA, Act For Peace, Anglican Overseas Aid, Australian Lutheran World Service, Baptist World Aid Australia, CBM Australia and Tearfund Australia.
