Shanghai Charity Foundation responded to criticism about the distribution of funds for the victims of the fire in Shanghai last year, saying that more than half of the 54.7 million yuan ($8.56 million) funds had been distributed.

It had been claimed by the victims that the foundation and its district branches received more than 44.8 million yuan, and that less than a tenth of that had been distributed, the Shanghai Daily reported.

Fifty-eight people died and 71 others were injured in the fire in November.