People have been outraged at the Australian Red Cross after the charity confirmed that the 95$ million worth of donations they raised for the victims of the bushfire crisis will take years to reach the affected people.
As the charity revealed, some $30 million of the total of $95 million raised had been allocated for providing immediate relief to bushfire victims.
However, the majority of the funds, around $65 million, have not yet been distributed whereas the charity claimed “tailored recovery programs” will ensure the funds will be distributed to the victims over a period of three years.
Slamming the charity’s drip-feeding tactics was MP Andrew Constance who accused Red Cross of keeping the funds in their bank account in order to get higher interest rather than helping the victims of the bushfire crisis.
“Australians have donated now so that people get help now, not in three years,” he said.
As the Minister for Transport and Roads added, he invites those in power to witness the destruction first-hand by joining him on a Saturday ride to devastated communities.
“My challenge to every one of these CEO’s: sit in my car on Saturday, we’ll go and see these people and then they might have a change in heart,” Mr. Constance added.
Similarly, hundreds of people and politicians have slammed the charity for their “dirty scheme” that keeps money away from those who lost the most.
“They’ve made a lot of promises that they’re going to this, that and the other, but I’ve received nothing,” an Ulmarra resident, Robert Gorringe, said in an interview with 7News.
According to the charity’s statement, “up to four external experts will provide independent advice on the best use of funds to meet immediate needs and to support the long term recovery of impacted communities.”
While people remain outraged at the charity’s decision to withhold the raised money from people in need of immediate support, Judy Slatyer, the Australian Red Cross CEO, claimed they were doing what’s best for the victims.
“We are working hard to ensure the generous donations from the Australian community and others around the world are used in the best way possible to help people and communities cope with the fires and recover well,” she said.
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Replaced!