Helping those who are in need is an Islamic duty

To help the people who are in the grip of difficulties is our Islamic duty. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:

Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment. Surah Maidah (5:2)
In the recent floods, innumerable families have been made homeless, many women have been turned into widows, children have been made orphans. To help such needy people is our Islamic and human duty and will bring us eternal blessings.

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever removes one small difficulty of this world from a Momin (believer), Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will remove a great difficulty of that person on the Day of Judgment and whoever creates some convenience for a needy person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will create ease for that person in this world and the next. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 38).
There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him): The person who gives some relief to a widow and poor and the needy is like the one who makes efforts in the path of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). The narrator says: I think the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: That person is like that person who is awake in the nights and does not ever tire and like the person who fasts continuously. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 6007, Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2982)
There is Hadith in Zujajatul Masabeeh:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will definitely grant Jannah to the person who includes an orphan in his (or her) food and drink excepting that person commits a sin which cannot be forgiven. (Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No: 96)
There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: …. if any person busies himself (or herself) in fulfilling the needs of a brother, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) fulfils the needs of that person. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 2442; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2580)
There is a Hadith in Zujajatul Masabeeh:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: If any person fulfils any need of any one of My Ummah, through which he (or she) wants to make that person happy, then in reality that person has made Me happy and that person has pleased Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will enter that person into Jannah who pleases Him. (Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No: 99)
Helping the affected Non-Muslims:
Islam has directed us to maintain moral and social relations with the Non-Muslims. Allah(Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just. Surah Mumtahina (60:8)
The Hadith declare that helping any person in difficulty regardless of religion or race brings us reward. Helping Non-Muslims who are facing difficulties and spending on needy poor has been a longstanding habit of Muslims. An example of what the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did, so that they acquire this habit is given in this Hadith:
Translation of Hadith: A year, the people of Makkah suffered a famine. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) sent 500 Dirhams to Abu Sufyan Bin Harb and 500 Dirhams to Safwan bin Ummayya to distribute among the needy. (Radd Ul Muhtaar, Vol. 2, Pg. No: 92).
The amount of Zakat cannot be spent on the Non-Muslims, they can be helped with other optional charities.
The Hadith have glad tidings for those who help the needy. Thus, there is a Hadith in Musnad Abu Ya’ala, Shu’ab Ul Iman & Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation of Hadith: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: For the person who helps any needy person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) writes 73 types of virtues. With the blessings of one virtue, the affairs of this world and the next of that person will be set right by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and the rest (72) will be for raising the status of that person. (Musnad Abu Ya’ala, Hadith No. 4266)
There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi and in Sunan Abu Dawood:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin ‘Amr (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is benevolent to that person who treats others with benevolence. You have mercy on those who live on this earth and the One of the skies will have mercy on you. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1924, Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 4941)