Australian government donates $30,000 to Red Cross

June of this year, Tropical Storm Arthur wreaked torrential havoc in the north and south of the country. Since then, the Belize Red Cross has been working tirelessly to assist those residents affected by the storm … and today the Australian Government commended them for their efforts and donated much needed funds to the organization. Second Vice-President of the Red Cross, Arturo Vasquez, accepted the cheque on Red Cross’ behalf and told us how they plan to use it.

Arturo Vasquez, 2nd Vice-President, Belize Reed Cross
“The Australian High Commission was here today as you noticed just now and he donated fifteen thousand U.S. dollars to the Arthur relief fund that we have been working on since June of this year. Fifteen thousand U.S. is thirty thousand Belize dollars will go quite a long way. At this point the Belize Red Cross has spent over three hundred and two thousand dollars in relief support for these people. However, I believe that the commission made it clear that this money is air-marked, meaning that it is specific to psycho-social support as well as refurbishing of latrines in these areas. Of the spending that we have done and the donations that we have received, we were short maybe twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars right now. So, this would perhaps come in quite perfect for what we need to complete this project.”

Philip Kentwell, Australian High Commission
“Before coming here I was looking at what can the Australia Government and Australian people do to provide some assistance to the people and the government of Belize. And I noted from tropical storm Arthur back in the end of May that Red Cross launched a flash appeal to raise money to assist particularly three counties or provinces that were badly affected and there was shortage in the budget that they were seeking to achieve. So I’ve decided to provide a grant of fifteen thousand dollars U.S. to the Red Cross to top up their appeal that they made.”

Australian High Commissioner to Belize, Philip Kentwell says his government anticipates further collaborations with Belize.