International popstar The Weeknd is a World Food Program goodwill ambassador and this is not the first time he’s giving millions for conflict affected places.
Ethio-Canadian Abel Tesfaye who shot to global stardom under his stage name The Weeknd co-founded XO Humanitarian Fund with the World Food Program aiming to provide “immediate life-saving support who are on the brink of starvation.” Between March and November 2022, the fund raised $5 million for people across the world in desperate need of aid.
The current donation, which will be used to provide support for civilians trapped in the crisis in Gaza, equates to 4 million emergency meals according to reports.
“We thank Abel for this valuable contribution to the people of Palestine,” World Food Program’s Middle East director Corinne Fleischer said. “We hope others will follow Abel’s example and support our efforts,” Fleischer added.
In 2021, the multi-platinum certified megastar pledged $1 million to help civilians trapped in the war in Ethiopia. “My heart breaks for my people of Ethiopia,” he said at the time referring to the war that had unleashed massive humanitarian crisis.
According to the World Food Program the Gaza conflict has created “a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning.”
