Doha, October 18 (QNA) - Qatar Charity (QC) has launched its 2026 'Winter Heroes' campaign to provide essential assistance to vulnerable families facing harsh weather and prolonged humanitarian crises.

The campaign seeks to raise QR 120 million for winter relief, humanitarian assistance and development projects globally, as well as social welfare programs in Qatar.

The initiative was unveiled at a press conference attended by several of QC's leaders, who outlined the campaign's objectives, its key humanitarian projects, and the target groups it aims to reach.

Executive Director of Communications and Community Impact at QC Abdulaziz Hejji said the campaign broadens the idea of humanitarian heroism to include not only those enduring harsh winter conditions, but also anyone helping protect others and ease their suffering, from donors and volunteers to mothers and children involved in charitable work.

Hejji indicated that QC chose to launch the campaign in October, before the winter cold sets in and the most severe cold spells reach the targeted countries. The early launch reflects the organization's emphasis on proactive giving and preparedness, helping to ensure that assistance reaches beneficiaries before conditions worsen, in line with the principle that prevention is better than cure.

He added that a key feature of this year’s campaign is the involvement of children and young people in interactive activities and awareness initiatives. These activities aim to promote giving, humanitarian action, volunteerism and social responsibility from an early age, while encouraging young people to become active contributors to humanitarian efforts rather than simply recipients of humanitarian messages.

Director of Humanitarian Operations at QC Aisha Abdulrazzaq AlKuwari said that the campaign aims to raise QR 70 million with the support of donors to fund assistance around the world. She indicated that the countries targeted by the campaign include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo.

She added that the assistance would include a wide range of essential winter supplies, including blankets, winter clothing, heaters, heating fuel, tents, plastic sheeting for tents, food supplies and cooking stoves, as well as other items needed to help families cope with winter conditions.

Locally, Executive Director of Alaqraboon Center Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida said the center aims to raise more than QR 50 million with the support of donors to fund assistance programs in Qatar. Around 23,000 people in Qatar are expected to benefit from the campaign.

He explained that the assistance would include food parcels and winter kits for low-income families, winter clothing for orphans and other sponsored beneficiaries, as well as winter kits, medical treatment and health awareness programs for workers.

The campaign will also support health initiatives, including assistance for people with kidney failure and medical insurance for orphans, while providing emergency aid to those facing exceptional circumstances such as illness or loss of income. It will also create opportunities to sponsor additional beneficiaries and support other social welfare projects.

QC called on individuals, companies and institutions in Qatar to support the "Winter Heroes" campaign, emphasizing that every contribution can make a tangible difference in the life of a family facing cold weather and financial hardship. (QNA)