With just three weeks to go before the Bermuda Red Cross closes off its appeal for funds for those affected by the September 11 attacks on the United States, close to $50,000 has been donated by local residents.

Ann Spencer-Arscott, the director of the local Red Cross, told The Royal Gazette that the funds raised will be sent to the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington DC after the appeal closes at the end of this month.

Asked whether funds will be diverted to other worthy causes, she stressed that "all money raised for September 11 has to go to that fund. They cannot be used in any way, shape or form for another disaster."

Ms Spencer-Arscott added that she will be asking the American Red Cross to give an accounting of how they plan to utilise the funds.

Government has not pledged to match funds raised by the local Red Cross. Charitable donations to the tune of billions of dollars have been made to various organisations to help the victims of the attacks.

Government last year announced that bank accounts had been opened at the Bank of Butterfield and the Bank of Bermuda for the UN Afghan Relief Fund so that locals can contribute to an international effort to aid the vulnerable in and around Afghanistan.

Residents were urged to contribute at least one dollar to the fund - which will be matched up to $75,000 by Government.

As of Press time yesterday, the Cabinet Office had not provided information on the status of that fund.

More than 3,000 people died when four hijacked commercial airliners were wielded as weapons in a co-ordinated attack on America on September 11.

Two of the airliners were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Another airliner was crashed into the Pentagon on the same day.

A fourth hijacking was foiled when passengers tackled the hijacker but the plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field killing all aboard.

America's ensuing war against terrorism has so far led to the deaths of about 4,000 civilians in Afghanistan, according to the most conservative estimate.