More than 21 million poor and disaster-affected Chinese have benefited from a special Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) program, according to the organization.

By the end of 2010, the society had raised more than 1 billion yuan (152 million U.S. dollars) for the Red Cross Philanthropy Activities program since it was launched in 1999, said a report from the RCSC.

The program has been carried out each year to provide subsidies and relief supplies on New Year's Day and the Spring Festival to the poor or people recently affected by disasters.

RCSC executive vice president Wang Wei said the program focused on providing aid to disaster-hit residents for the past two years, but this year it focused on people in financial difficulties.

"We aim to set up a bridge of compassion between the needy and society," he said.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China. It fell on Feb. 3 this year.