Established in March 1978 as Qatar's first volunteering charitable organization, Qatar Red Crescent S​​ociety (QRCS) works to help and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination. QRCS is an active member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and a network of National Societies in 190​ countries. It is also a member of several regional and Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC) and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO).