Star-studded concert to launch Emergency Action Alliance Ukraine appeal

The Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) will today launch their first emergency appeal in conjunction with media partner ABC.

A two-hour Concert for Ukraine will bring together leading names from the music world, including Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabelo and Manic Street Preachers, to raise money for victims of the humanitarian disaster.

Screening on ABC TV Plus this Wednesday, March 30 at 8.30pm (AEST) the all-star event will spread a message of hope and support while raising funds for EAA to address the immediate needs of people fleeing the conflict, and in the long road ahead.

This is the first emergency appeal for Emergency Action Alliance, bringing together 15 of Australia’s leading aid charities to form a single fundraising entity when major disasters take place overseas.

Viewers of the Concert for Ukraine will be able to donate throughout the evening, and in the following two weeks. All money raised will complement the recently announced $2 million Federal Government contribution to Emergency Action Alliance’s Ukraine Appeal, as well as proceeds from existing EAA member Ukraine appeals.

ChildFund Australia CEO, Margaret Sheehan said “The situation in Ukraine is dire. In the 25 years of work in this sector, I have never witnessed an emergency that has escalated to this scale over just a matter of weeks. This includes indiscriminate shelling; the targeting of civilians, hospitals, and schools; forced evacuations; and mass scale displacement. We will spend your money to provide cash and food assistance, critical medical supplies, urgent relief, and protection.”

Kerren Morris, Executive Director at EAA said: “This is the moment when we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who have had to flee a terrible conflict that continues to rage. Our 15 members believe this is the moment where we come together to raise more funds and have even greater impact during the recovery and rebuilding phase. We are excited to partner with ABC on this major appeal.”

Viewers will be able to donate money to the cause throughout the evening online through emergencyaction.org.au and via phone on 1300 939 000. Viewers will also be able to catch up on the concert on ABC iview for 30 days after the broadcast and continue to donate after the event has finished.

For more information:
• Kerren Morris 0410457869 or kmorris@emergencyaction.org.au (EAA)
• Amelia Brock, 0430187161 or amelia.brock@essentialmedia.com.au (ChildFund Australia)

About Emergency Action Alliance (EAA): EAA brings together 15 leading Australian aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. EAA’s 15 member charities are: ActionAid Australia, Act For Peace, ADRA, Anglican Overseas Aid, Australia for UNHCR, Australian Lutheran World Service, Baptist World Aid Australia, Care Australia, Caritas Australia, CBM Australia, ChildFund Australia, Oxfam Australia, Plan International Australia, Save the Children Australia and Tearfund Australia.

Twelve of EAA’s 15 members are either responding or planning to respond in Ukraine or in neighbouring countries and will receive funds from this appeal. Some may work through trusted local partners while others will work through their European counterparts.

How to donate:
• Online: https://emergencyaction.org.au/ukraineemergencyappeal
• Phone: 1300 939 000
• SMS: Text ACTION to 0400 662 662

Online launch event features high profile speakers including Senator the Hon Marise Payne, ABC Board Director Dr Jane Connors, and James Gilling, First Assistant Secretary, Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division

Sixteen Australian charities joined forces for the first time today Friday 6 August, to launch the newly-formed Emergency Action Alliance at an online event that featured prominent government leaders, media executives and charity leaders. In an historic move, the humanitarian agencies will be uniting in their campaign and fundraising efforts to improve how Australians can support and donate when large scale overseas humanitarian disasters take place.

The CEOs of the charities believe that through this new single fundraising entity more money can be raised from the Australian public more quickly so that there can be a rapid distribution of funds allocated to where the money is most needed.  This will save more lives and can enable the quicker and more efficient rebuilding of communities.

Executive Director of the Emergency Action Alliance, Kerren Morris says, “Around the globe, the number of large-scale disasters are increasing. The complexity of these emergencies are also accelerating, and new factors such as the COVID pandemic mean that communities are even more vulnerable.  It’s no surprise that the needs for disaster response and recovery are escalating. Our member organisations already work in close collaboration during a disaster response – but there has been a common agreement that a more formal alliance was needed to make it easier for donors to give. Today is an historic moment in Australia’s response to disaster relief.”

The online launch on Friday featured high profile speakers including Senator the Hon Marise Payne, ABC Board Director Dr Jane Connors, James Gilling, First Assistant Secretary (Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division), CEO of ACFID Marc Purcell, CEO of Fundraising Institute of Australia Katherine Raskob, and each of the EAA member CEOs.

Matthew Maury, the Chair of EAA Board and CEO of Tearfund Australia says, “Australians are incredibly generous when a disaster strikes and the EAA is designed to maximise the impact of this generosity.  When a crisis occurs, the Emergency Action Alliance works with its 16 members to quickly direct resources to the member agencies best positioned to respond to the disaster. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to join with my fellow Australian NGO leaders as we collaborate in this innovative way to raise more support for the most vulnerable communities around the world in their time of greatest need.”

Morris concludes, “When there’s a huge disaster or crisis overseas that gains media attention here in Australia, it can be hard for generous, compassionate supporters to know how to help, where to donate and who to trust with their donation. We know from research that any hesitancy can inhibit an individual’s likelihood to help. Through the Emergency Action Alliance donors will have confidence that their donation will be helpful to the people and communities impacted by the disaster.”

The full list of member organisations of the EAA are: Action Aid, ADRA, Act for Peace, Australian Lutheran World Service, Anglican Overseas Aid, Baptist World Aid, Caritas Australia, Care, CBM, ChildFund Australia, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, Tearfund Australia, Australia for UNHCR, and World Vision.

For more information on the Emergency Action Alliance please visit emergencyaction.org.au