Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has said it is implementing its socio-economic empowerment programme for poor families in the country with a total funding of QR2,928,000 from Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd (Oxy Qatar) over four years.
This is in pursuit of corporate social responsibility and humanitarian partnership policies to serve needy members of the society, according to a 
statement.
In the current year, QRCS has offered monthly financial and food subsidies for 28 low-income families with a view to meeting some of their needs and helping them fulfil the 
requirements of life.
These subsidies amounted to QR732,000 in total, with each family receiving QR2,000 per month, based on a case study on the conditions, expenses, resources and needs of families.
Home visits are made to the targeted families to estimate the monthly payments, depending on their size and finances.
Special attention is given to families with heavy debts, divorced women, widows and 
orphans.
Saleh bin Ali al-Mohannadi, secretary-general, QRCS, said the purpose of the partnership between QRCS and Oxy Qatar is to help improve the living standards of disadvantaged people, empower them to preserve their well-being and health, stretch out social welfare wings, promote solidarity among society members, ensure stability for as many vulnerable families as possible and help those families faced with force majeure.
Stephen Kelly, president and general manager, Oxy Qatar, said: “We are proud of our continuing partnership with QRCS and support its socio-economic programmes. Our goal is to build positive and enduring partnerships with organisations that can make a real difference. We believe that QRCS is doing this work very effectively with its outreach programmes.”
Under a four-year agreement signed in 2014, Oxy is sponsoring one aspect of QRCS’s socio-economic programme, which serves about 1,500 families every year, with an annual budget 
exceeding QR7mn.
Apart from the financial and in-kind subsidies, QRCS provides financial support for poor students, coverage of treatment costs for poor patients, women’s professional and economic empowerment and other social programmes that work towards the holistic development goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.