UAE response to devastating Australian bushfires ‘pretty immense’

She revealed talks are currently taking place with Emirati authorities, with a view to seeking authorisation for charitable donations to be collected from the UAE.

In the UAE it is illegal to call for, promote and collect donations online without first obtaining the proper permission and licensing from the correct authorities, as per Article 27 of the Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes. Anyone found breaking the law faces a prison terms of up to three years or a fine of between AED250,000 and AED500,000.

Midttun, a native of Brisbane who has been in the UAE for 11 years, told Arabian Business: “Obviously with the limit on what can be done in donations and at a charity level with the UAE it’s quite a difficult one to navigate. We’re trying to figure out how to do that… to see if we can put in an application so we can be collecting donations.”

Wildlife impact

Since late September, 24 people have died, while six are still missing, more than 2,000 buildings have been destroyed and an area roughly twice the size of Belgium or Hawaii has burned.

The death toll for Australia’s wildlife is estimated to have hit 480 million in just New South Wales alone, according to a University of Sydney study. Experts fear the loss of animal life could be much higher than the estimates.

Midttun said: “I don’t think people understand just how big it is. When you think back to last year and what happened in the Amazon, that was pretty horrible in itself and it was two million acres – Australia has already lost 12 million acres, which is six times more.”

The Australian Government on Saturday called up 3,000 military reservists – the first in the nation’s history, according to the defence minister – to help firefighters tackle the bushfires.

UAE support

Midttun said the response from the 16,000 Australian expat community in the UAE has also been incredibly encouraging. “It’s been pretty immense. Given the scale of the fires, the response from the community has been amazing,” she said.

“As far as what we can do, we can tell people to raise awareness and to share the factual information about what is going on.

“Also just asking people internationally to support. People who are able to donate to the registered charities, making sure they have the information on how to donate.

“Asking people in Australia to make sure they’re registered on the right websites so that they can assist with shelter where necessary and possible.

“Donating to the food banks. Go online and order groceries from Woolworths or Coles and have them delivered straight to the food banks. That’s been the extent of the advice so far.

“I’m hoping we can work with the embassy to get something set up for donations.”

Celebrity support

Celebrities have pledged or raised millions of dollars to support firefighters and fire-affected communities, including US singer Pink who tweeted Saturday that she was donating $500,000.

Australian actress Nicole Kidman matched that pledge. “Our family’s support, thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia,” she posted on Instagram. “We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now.”

Actor Hugh Jackman and comedian and producer Nick Kroll have said on social media they were supporting Australian organisations or raising money to help firefighters.

World No.1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty on Sunday pledged to donate all of her Brisbane International prize money to the bushfire appeal. She is the top seed in the Brisbane event which starts on Monday, with the winner taking home $250,000.

Barty joined a growing list of sports stars and organisations to lend their support with the NRL, Football Federation Australia, Netball Australia and two-time Dakar Rally winner Toby Price among those coming on board on Sunday.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West is also among those lending support by sharing social media links on how to donate.