Building on the annual Ramadan initiative, the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has been implementing its Ramadan campaign across several countries to support families and individuals in need.

In light of the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, QRCS has replaced its annual Ramadan Iftar tents with food baskets and freshly-cooked meals that the organization's representatives and volunteers have been distributing to the needy in different locations across Qatar.

Under its Ramadan Campaign, titled 'It is Better and Greater in Reward,' QRCS has focused on 15 main locations, including Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Najma, Abu Hamour, Ain Khaled, Fereej Al Manaseer, Al Khor, Al Wakra, Industrial Area, Mekaines quarantine facility, Al Thakhira, and Al Sailiya.

As many as 800 females and 400 male volunteers are engaged in the distribution of the readymade Iftar meals, driven by a spirit of social responsibility among the youth in the face of the coronavirus crisis, QRCS has said in a statement.

Until now, the organization has given out more than 55,000 Iftar meals to the underprivileged across the country.

QRCS has stressed that all necessary safety precautions and preventive measures are being implemented as the campaign is rolled out.

Each meal is properly sealed and distributed in a safe way. All those involved in the process of preparing meals and distributing them to the beneficiaries wear masks and gloves throughout the process.

QRCS highlighted that these activities are generously supported by several kind donors in Qatar, some of whom donate the cost of implementation in entire districts. 

For instance, one donor paid for 36,000 Iftar meals to be distributed to inhabitants of the Industrial Area.

According to QRCS, restaurants and catering enterprises also donate hundreds of fresh meals to the project.

QRCS welcomes in-kind donations through the mobile number, 55884707. The donated readymade meals would be distributed to the beneficiaries in a manner that ensures both quality and safety. 

Under the Ramadan campaign, a total of 27,500 food baskets are being offered to eligible, needy families through branches of LuLu Hypermarket.

In addition to providing food assistance through the provision of Iftar meals and food baskets, some other QRCS programs include:

- Zakat al-Fitr - in several countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and others

- Eid clothes - purchasing and donating Eid clothes for the needy

- This is My Wish - gifts and toys for sick children

You can make a donation to Qatar Red Crescent Society's charity programs online.

Other ways to donate include: 

- send an SMS (app.qrcs.org.qa/cov);

- call hotlines (66666364 – 33998898);

- make a bank transfer via QIIB (IBAN: QA66QIIB000000001111126666003);

- or visit - QRCS's headquarters in Corniche, QRCS’s Training and Development Center in Umm Al-Seneem, or QRCS's donation collection agents (Al-Meera, LuLu, and Carrefour).

Meanwhile, health authorities in the country continue to implement the highest level of monitoring, detection, and management procedures to deal with the virus, the public has been advised to follow certain measures to safeguard their health.

For any queries, or concerns related to COVID-19 in Qatar, the public can contact a 24/7 hotline set up by the Ministry. The hotline number is 16000 and is toll-free.

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself.

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Images Credit: QRCS