One in Four Cantabrians Receives Red Cross Help

Four years on from the first earthquake, New Zealand Red Cross has helped one in four Cantabrians, distributed $91 million in grants and spent $11 million on programmesfor quake-hit communities.

Red Cross has helped more than 104,000 people with a wide range of services, including improving the health and wellbeing of earthquake-affected residents, repairing earthquake-damaged homes and delivering programmes supporting school children.

Most recently, Red Cross has distributed $1.2 million to flood- hit households in the Flockton area of Christchurch, identified by the Christchurch and Waimakariri District Councils.

These figures have been released as part of the October2014 Red Cross Recovery Update.

Red Cross Secretary General Tony Paine says the organisation feels a deep sense of responsibility to distribute the $130 million appeal funds and has been guided by the people of Christchurch on what the most urgent needs are, through the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Commission.

“The work we have done in Christchurch has only been possible thanks to the support of generous Kiwis and contributions from other Red Cross organisations around the world,”says Mr Paine.

New Zealand Red Cross has $24million committed to current programmes, enabling work to continue over the next 18 months and a further $4 million available for new and emerging needs in earthquake-affected communities.

“We know that recovery in Christchurch is far from over. While social, emotional and community recovery is progressing,there is still lots to be done,” says Mr Paine.

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