1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: The death toll from the Turkey and Syria earthquake has 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: surpassed twelve thousand and is fully expected to keep rising. 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Four Australians are missing, and the stories coming out from 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: the desperate searches in the rubble are just harrowing. I'm 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: still getting my head around the story about that newborn 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: baby found alive with her umbilical court still attached, and 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: the tragedy that the mother who they think gave birth 8 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: trapped in the rubble didn't make it. It's all so 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: distressing and at this time people want to know what 10 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: they can do, how they can help. Well, we've got 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: Karen Morris, executive director at Emergency Action Alliance, on the line. 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Karen, good. 13 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 2: Morning, a pleasure. Thanks for having you. 14 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: Now tell us about Emergency Action Alliance and what people 15 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: can do for the relief efforts. 16 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 2: Yeah sure so. Basically, in situations like this, the tragedy 17 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: is of such an enormous scale it's hard to comprehend. 18 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: So what charities have done. They've got fifteen members. They 19 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: include Oxfam, Save the Children, Astrola for You and HDR 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,279 Speaker 2: Carot Has Care Australia. These are leading Australian charities who 21 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 2: have said that in moments like this, we need to 22 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: come together and centralize our fundraising appeal to make it 23 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: easier for Australians to know how to help. So rather 24 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 2: than wondering, well, I'm a bit overwhelmed, should I give 25 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: to this charity of that charity? What is going to 26 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: have the best impact? And I suppose that's the key things. 27 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: It's not just about making it easy to know how 28 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: to help and a single central way to donate, but 29 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 2: that the funds then go only to the members that 30 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 2: are on the ground responding to the emergency, and the 31 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: breadth of the response. Because we've got fifteen members, eleven 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: of whom are all responding to this particular emergency in 33 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: Turkey and Syria, it means that it's really broad coverage, 34 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: not just in terms of presence in different parts of 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: the emergency, but some the charities focus on refugees, some 36 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: focus on women and children. So it really is a 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: very broad based response and it's really the best way 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 2: to help right now. 39 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, the actual tangible part of it, when you're actually 40 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 3: getting on the ground and donations being distributed. Has that 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: worked out, Karen? I mean It's very difficult, isn't it. 42 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 2: It's very very early days. Unfortunately, these charities already have 43 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,399 Speaker 2: a really strong and established presidence, so it's like they're 44 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 2: racing those there. They're already there, and so what the 45 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: funds do is ensure that the resources are available and 46 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: that they get to where they're needed immediately. So that's 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: already happening. That this is an enormous emergency, and so 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 2: the need is very great, and there is a big 49 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: gap between what they've got right now and what they 50 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: need to ensure that people are safe, have a safe 51 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: place to stay, that they have food, blankets, shelter. 52 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: And can people feel confident that all of their donation 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 1: does make it to where they want it to go. 54 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: This is easily one of the best ways to know that, 55 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 2: because the money will only go to the charities that 56 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: are actually on the ground responding. And the reason we 57 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: know that is they each submit to Emergency Action Alliance, 58 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: which by the way, is owned by the charities. The 59 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: charities themselves fund the operating costs, so we're not like 60 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: a separate entity altogether. We're kind of part of these charities. 61 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 2: They submit their applications the funding, which says this is 62 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: where we are, this is what we're doing, this is 63 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: how we are helping, and this is what we need. 64 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: So we review all of those and then the money 65 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: is distributed based on each charity's capacity to respond to 66 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: that emergency. So it's not like, okay, we'll give you 67 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: three quarters of money and this it's a very scientific 68 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: and very evident based distribution. 69 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: So terrific idea really the streamline like that. So it's 70 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: been a few days. How are the relief efforts going. 71 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: Have people been making donations? 72 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: Yes, so we're getting a real pick up. What we're 73 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: seeing is that we're an immediate response. But as the 74 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: news reports become more and more harrowing, the donation just 75 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: keep going up. As Jones are incredibly generous. We are 76 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: not strangers to natural disasters, and it's just really heart 77 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: warming to see these do nations continuously wise. So we're 78 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: hoping that we'll get a significant list in the coming 79 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 2: days because that's what's desperately needed. 80 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is easy to forget Karen that there's still, 81 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: especially children being plucked out of the rubble. So it's 82 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: very early days, but that doesn't mean that it stops 83 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: us from donating and giving so that there's a war 84 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 3: chest there too. 85 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: That's great. So what happens often in these emergencies in 86 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 2: the headlines for days and past, it's going to be 87 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: much longer than that, but the relief effort goes on 88 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 2: for months and so long after it's outside of their headlines. 89 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 2: The money that we raised in these early days where 90 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: at the top of people's minds. That money is disputed 91 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: over the course of the complex humanitarian response that's taking place. 92 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 2: I mean, right now, it's all about the first responses 93 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: that people being pulled from the rubble stat This is 94 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: obviously the tail end of that. And now we turn 95 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 2: to the survivors, medical services for those who are injured, 96 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 2: a safe place to stay, for children who have lost 97 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 2: their families, and really, with sixty six thousand, five hundred 98 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: buildings have been collapsed, where are those people going to live? 99 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: Emergency shelter is absolutely key in zero degrees temperatures, leaves just. 100 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: Tragic, so many factors. All right, Well, Karen, people that 101 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: want to help, where where should they go? Is there? 102 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: They should go to Emergencyaction dot org, dot AU. Okay, 103 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: so it's just Google emergency action and it will pop 104 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: up and you'll be over there and give what you can. 105 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 3: That's wonderful. Well, the emergency action aligns, giving people a 106 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 3: lot of confidence, especially with the point that Least raised 107 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 3: about corruption in certain areas and that and this this 108 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: gets through, which is terrific. 109 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: All right, thank you very much for your time, Karen, 110 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: thanks so much, great chat. 111 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 3: Thank you bybe it's got to be And she makes 112 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 3: a very good point. In the new cycle, as we know, 113 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 3: it moves on to something else. Well, it does fairly quickly. 114 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: When I were talking earlier about you know how they 115 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: Karen mentioned how many buildings have collapsed, but imagine how 116 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: many others are structurally unsound, and you wouldn't be going 117 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: anywhere near them. That would be like probably another you 118 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: know tenfold. 119 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you mentioned the woman giving birth and losing 120 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 3: her life and the child surviving. There are many other 121 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 3: women about to give birth in those parts of the 122 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 3: world right now, so you know, as much as we 123 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: can give, which is terrific.