Shocking moment hundreds of donations for Melbourne tower block families are CONFISCATED - despite households crying out for more food and mums begging for milk
- Melbourne SES workers appeared to confiscate supplies for trapped families
- Ten towers in Flemington and North Melbourne were locked down on Saturday
- Residents have complained they are not being given enough food or supplies
- Thousands of food parcels have already been delivered, Daniel Andrews said
Covert video shows donations of food and baby formula destined for families trapped inside Melbourne towers being confiscated by Victorian officials.
Ten towers in Flemington and North Melbourne are now in lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, with 3,000 residents unable to leave their apartments for any reason for at least five days.
Many were caught by surprise when the no-warning lockdown was implemented on Saturday, leaving them with no food, baby formula or medication.
Volunteers had hoped to help the desperate residents by delivering hundreds of packages to public housing towers in Flemington on Monday night.
But before the much-needed supplies made it inside the building, SES workers swooped in and grabbed the packages.
Shocking footage has emerged showing donations of food and baby formula intended for families trapped inside Melbourne towers being confiscated by officials (pictured, on Monday)
Footage shows men in orange jumpsuits removing the backs of food and piling them into the back of a truck.
A volunteer claimed the SES workers refused to say where the packages were going or explain why they were being removed.
'Residents are confused as to why all their supplies are being confiscated without information,' the volunteer wrote on twitter.
'Food meant for residents including baby formulas and food catering to people’s dietary requirements has all been taken away.'
Daily Mail Australia understands there had been concerns some of the food was past its sell-by date, and would not abide by strict health and safety measures.
Others are claiming the confiscation was related to with 'confusion around food drops'.
'We are currently working with the parties involved to make sure food and other supplies are being provided without further interruption,' a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services told Daily Mail Australia.
'We apologise for the inconvenience and frustration caused and thank the residents for their cooperation and patience.'
1,000 essential food hampers with cereal, pasta, long-life milk, sugar, and tinned vegetables have been delivered to residents by Foodbank (pictured, the haul on Monday night)
Melbourne community groups have also rallied to help the residents with Sikh Volunteers Australia bringing hundreds of hot vegetarian meals (pictured on Monday)
Despite the state government saying food and supplies have distributed, many residents have complained that what they have been given is not enough.
Ahmed Dini, a resident of a North Melbourne tower and a social worker, told ABC News Breakfast some residents were still waiting for food on Monday morning, despite the building going into lockdown on Saturday.
Residents have shared images on social media of out-of-date meals, food left on the floor and Muslim families given pork.
Debbie Harrison, who is caring for her 83-year-old mother, Ivy, at a housing unit in North Melbourne says they have only been given four sausage rolls to eat in 48 hours.
Ms Harrison broke down in tears and said she and her mother have run out of fruit, vegetables, meat and toilet paper.
Police stand at the entry of 130 Racecourse Road in Flemington, Melbourne, following the announcement of lockdowns on Saturday (pictured)
About 3000 residents in Melbourne were put into immediate lockdown on Saturday (pictured, one of the ten public housing estates
A resident peers out from a window inside the Racecourse Road housing commission tower (pictured on Monday) with many complaining they are not getting food
The distressed woman said they had only received their first delivery on Monday despite going into complete lockdown at 4pm Saturday.
The mother and daughter were given four small sausage rolls to sustain them for the entire day.
'They are just going to go in the bin, we're not touching them,' Ms Harrison told A Current Affair.
Ms Harrison tried to get her daughter to deliver groceries, but she was turned away by police guarding the public housing tower.
The great-grandmother said she is more worried about her children and her great-grandchildren.
'I want things to be what they used to be, I've never known anything like this in my 83 years, never,' she said.
At 1am on Tuesday, volunteers were able to get supplies to the residents, the Twitter user shared.
'We were able to get supplies in tonight. Incredibly grateful to all those who helped us make this happen despite all the obstacles.'
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday the Foodbank had provided 1,000 essential food hampers with cereal, pasta, long-life milk, sugar, and tinned vegetables to residents, while a further 3,000 ready-made meals and 4,500 pastries had also been delivered.
Melbourne community groups have also rallied to help the residents with Sikh Volunteers Australia bringing hundreds of hot vegetarian meals, Foodbank Victoria delivering 1600 hampers and the National Homeless Collective delivering 140 tins of baby formula, nappies and sanitary pads.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria State Emergency Service for comment.
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