Why is the Red Cross spending rate slowing as compared to the first part of the disaster response?
The spending rate is slower now than in the first months following the earthquake because many of the relief supplies now arriving in Haiti were purchased earlier, while our long-term recovery programs are in the beginning stage. In addition, the pace of spending is always high in the first weeks and months of a disaster to get the food, water and supplies purchased and to the people. If we sustained that pace of spending, all of the donations would be gone in a short time and there would be no money for transitional shelter or other longer term programs.
