New charity to distribute $6 million to mosque attack victims

New charity the Christchurch Foundation is launching into the next phase of helping the mosque attack victims. The foundation has collected $6 million for the cause and is currently working to identify the needs of the family and wider community. “We’ve spent the last few months collecting the gifts in from all around the world […]

New charity the Christchurch Foundation is launching into the next phase of helping the mosque attack victims.

The foundation has collected $6 million for the cause and is currently working to identify the needs of the family and wider community.

“We’ve spent the last few months collecting the gifts in from all around the world and [are] preparing to begin distribution,” chief executive Amy Carter told Newshub.

It’s accepted $420,000 gifted to Victim Support, which will be used for medium to long term support for the severely harmed.

“It seemed to make sense to us to take over the distribution of those funds because there’s obviously an immediate need for some people,” Carter said.

Victim Support received $10 million in the wake of the attacks. This has now been fully distributed. Carter said in a statement that Victim Support’s contribution focused on the short term needs of the victims.

Meanwhile, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the attacks is will open for submissions on Monday, July 1.

Information gathered through submissions will lead inquiries into what State sector agencies knew about the attacker and what they did.

Chairperson Sir William Young says they want to hear from anyone with information.

Fifty-one people died after an attacker opened fire inside the Al Noor (Deans Ave) and Linwood Ave mosques in Christchurch on March 15.