557 affected families and households were helped quickly and unbureaucratically
Vienna (OTS) – At the beginning of June 2024, after the severe storms in Styria and Burgenland, the ORF initiative AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA, together with its partner organizations (Austrian Red Cross, Caritas, Diakonie, Hilfewerk and Volkshilfe), immediately released funds from the acute aid fund and started with bridging aid for Affected. The aid is intended to support people whose houses have been destroyed or damaged by the rains, floods and mudslides. The AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA initiative has received 892,253 euros in donations since the campaign started in June.
Help from AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA started in the week after the devastating storms. With the applications for bridging aid that have been processed and paid out so far, 557 affected families received quick and unbureaucratic financial support. The bridging aid is primarily used to purchase urgently needed household appliances and to cover daily needs. While the bridging aid represents an immediate response to the acute emergency, the majority of the donations collected will be used for reconstruction, which is intended to provide targeted support for particularly affected families in the storm areas.
The ORF supported the relief campaign “Flood – AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA” in all of its media and state studios with a spot campaign and current reporting in its information formats. Those affected can continue to read all the information about support options and submit applications via Hilfe.ORF.at.
ORF General Director Mag. Roland Weißmann: “The storms in the affected regions in Austria have once again caused devastating damage, and quick help was once again required. The donors in Austria made such help possible, for which I would like to thank you very much. With your donations, many of those affected could be helped quickly and efficiently. It is a matter of course for the ORF, as the company’s broadcaster, to support the ÖSTERREICH HILFT ÖSTERREICH relief campaign in the best possible way in all of its media and to motivate people in Austria to donate.”
DI Peter Kaiser, Deputy Secretary General of the Austrian Red Cross: “The willingness of people in Austria to help their fellow human beings with a donation to AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA is always overwhelming. After the extreme weather events of the past few weeks, it was necessary to quickly and unbureaucratically help those people who were and are still affected by the great destruction. Any amount, large or small, will help alleviate the suffering that has arisen. The donation result of almost 900,000 euros shows the great solidarity with those affected. We would like to thank everyone who supports the work of the aid organizations with their donations.”
Prof. Pius Strobl, ORF Head of Corporate Social Responsibility: “As a result of the devastating floods, many people have lost their homes and are left with nothing. The acute relief fund offers quick support so that those affected can re-equip their homes with necessary household appliances and furniture. Especially in such dramatic moments, when the home is destroyed, it is important to give people the prospect of quick help so that they can soon be able to cope with their everyday lives again. In almost every household there are tasks such as childcare or caring for older relatives. The bridging aid from AUSTRIA HILFT AUSTRIA conveys a feeling of security.”
About AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA
AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA is an ORF initiative together with Austria’s leading aid organizations and was launched in 2020 in response to the Corona crisis. After the storms in August 2023, more than 2,500 affected people were helped quickly and unbureaucratically with the flood emergency and bridging aid. Even in current and future domestic crises and disasters, people in Austria will be supported with the help of donors.
There are several ways to donate to ÖSTERREICH HILFT ÖSTERREICH’s flood relief efforts. All information about this can be found at Helfer.ORF.at and in the ORF TELETEXT on page 685.
Donation account from AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA
IBAN: AT06 2011 1800 8076 0700
BIC: EXERCISEWW