Multiple fires have been dangerously blazing across Greece since Tuesday, with many of them out of control.

There were more than 150 fires burning across Greece on Sunday, fuelled by one of the worst heatwaves in recent times.

As Greek firefighters grapple with the unprecedented disaster, neighbouring countries have rushed to send help, including France, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Sweden, Israel, Romania Switzerland and Poland, to lend support to the firefighting efforts.

The diaspora has spearheaded its own appeal to help raise funds, with Melbourne’s Greek community leading the way in efforts to support the firefighting efforts just as it had during the devastating fires in 2018 when it raised funds for the Hellenic Volunteer Fire Fighting Association (HVFFA)  to purchase much-needed protective equipment.

Showing a front of unity, the Greek Community of Melbourne reached out to numerous Greek Australian groups and organisations to help once again, many have already heeded the call and there is a growing number of groups joining together as part of the GCM’s efforts.

READ MORE: Fires continue to burn out of control in Evia, villages are evacuated, “apocalyptic” scenes

Community organisations, businesses and individuals can all contribute to this drive simply by making a donation via either heading to the Go Fund Me page campaign which has been established for the campaign https://gofund.me/e071edf0 or by a direct deposit into the Greek Community’s Greek fires account: BSB 063 023 and Account number 1042 1568.

Organisations which have so far endorsed the Greek Community of Melbourne’s fire appeal:

  • Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria
  • AHEPA Victoria
  • Australian Federation of Pontian Associations
  • Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation
  • Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria
  • Federation of Messinian Organisation of Melbourne and Victoria
  • Greek City Times
  • Greek Herald
  • Greek Precinct Association
  • Greek Youth Generator
  • Hellenic Australian Chamber fo Commerce and Industry (Vic)
  • Hellenic Medical Society of Australia
  • Hellenic RSL Sub-Branch
  • Lefkadian Brotherhood
  • National Union of Greek Australian Students (Vic)
  • Neos Kosmos
  • Pan Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria
  • Pancretan Association of Melbourne
  • Panepirotic Federation of Australia
  • Pantrifilian Association of Melbourne and Victoria
  • Pontian Coordinating Committee for the Commemoration of the Greek Genocide
  • Rythmos Greek Digital Radio
  • Society of Kalamata “23 March”
  • Thessaloniki Association “White Tower”

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has also started its own separate firefighting appeal and has set up its own gofundme page (gofundme.com/f/greece-2021-fire-appeal) and account. To help in the Archdiocese’s efforts deposit money to BSB 082 057, account number 12 693 2006

In a message to Greek Orthodox Australians, Archbishop Makarios said: “With pain of soul, we watch the unfolding of the destructive fires that are mortally wounding the body of our beloved homeland in the last days. Our hearts are suffering along with every brother and sister who is hurting; for every house and property that is engulfed in flames; for every speck of forest that is reduced to ashes.”

READ MORE: Greece on fire: scenes of destruction as 98 new fires break out

He said the appeal was started to “mobilise practical support for our brothers and sisters who have lost their properties”.

“I have communicated with the Metropolitans whose dioceses are in the fire-affected regions and conveyed to them the support of our God-loving Bishops, the pious clergy and the Christ-loving people of Australia,” he said.