Xinhua News Agency
Reported by Zhou Wei
May 21, 2008
The Red Cross Society of China spokesman Wang Ping accepted reporters’ interviews on the issues how to use donations and materials contributed.
Wang Ping said, as of 18:00 on May 20, the Red Cross Society of China and Red Crosses at all levels have received donations from home and abroad totaling 3.029 billion RMB. Turning to the use of received donations by the Red Cross Society in the future, said Wang Ping, on May 18, the Red Cross Society of China issued an emergency Notice to Red Crosses at all levels, saying that should be in the light of the demand of disaster areas and out of respect for the wishes of donors, funds for the emergency relief should be disbursed in a timely fashion to the disaster areas, funds for post-relief reconstruction should be got properly earmarked according to the country's overall plan in the reconstruction phase. Red Cross offices at all levels should take initiative in announcing the use of funds and accept supervision by government, social and media. Wang Ping stressed that the "5 • 12" earthquake fund-raising and materials received by the Red Cross will be used exclusively for earthquake relief work, and costs that are unrelated to earthquake relief are not and will not be expended.
The China Red Cross Society is engaged in humanitarian relief work in social organizations. Red Cross staff are paid accordingly by the appropriate government department, and not from funds raised by "5 • 12" earthquake fund-raising. |
