9/11 victims’ £5.6billion fund ‘could RUN OUT’ due to illnesses caused by toxic dust
A £5.6BILLION kitty for 9/11 victims could RUN OUT due to the amount of people coming down with illnesses stemming from the terror attack, it was feared yesterday.
The 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) responsible for providing financial assistance to those suffering from sickness caused by toxic dust at Ground Zero, is already showing signs of strain.
Rupa Bhattacharyya, one of those looking after the fund, admitted: “We do periodic assessments of our data. Looking at the data more recently, I’m starting to get a little concerned.”
An estimated 400 tons of asbestos was used in the construction of the World Trade Center.
That was released into the air when terrorists flew hijacked planes into the two towers exactly 17 years ago today – causing them to crash to the ground.
Many victims have suffered cancers and lung conditions from the toxic air.
As of this June, 88,484 first responders and survivors have registered with the World Trade Center Health Program.
Of that number, roughly 10,000 have some form of cancer that has been certified by the program.
The VCF has reviewed an astonishing 38,502 compensation claims from 9/11 illness sufferers this year - a 28 per cent jump over the 30,081 claims it took in last year over the same period.
Pay-outs that can range up to £150,000 depending on the illness.
The VCF cash is supposed to help everyone before it expires on December 18, 2020 – but campaigners could now get lawmakers to step in.
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John Feal, a 9/11 advocate, said: “I’m pretty confident that they will run out of money.
“But I don’t think people should be concerned right now. I bet my one kidney that we will get the VCF extended.”
He estimated that someone dies of a 9/11-related illness an average of every 2.7 days.
Around 90,000 first responders showed up at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the attack.
An additional 400,000 survivors lived and worked in the area at the time.
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