The majority of funds donated to earthquake victims in Sichuan are in the hands of the government because the public does not trust non-government organizations (NGOs), an official says.

China received nearly 76 billion yuan ($11.2 billion) in cash and relief materials from domestic and foreign donors after the massive earthquake on May 12, 2008.

About 80 percent of that money is now under the control of the central and local governments, according to a report released by the NGO research center with Tsinghua University.

Wang Zhenyao, the director of the department of charity coordination and promotion with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, told Beijing News the public is not willing to put the money into the hands of NGOs because the organizations lack strong credibility and transparency about how the funds are spent.

The government spends the money on restoration projects, Wang said.

Meanwhile, Li Jianping, the chief of administration of NGOs in Sichuan, said that resources were being wasted in some areas of the province.

(China Daily August 14, 2009)