Global music star Abel Tesfaye contributes $350,000 to support disaster relief efforts in Jamaica that deliver essential aid and help communities rebuild.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is giving crucial support to the people of Jamaica in the aftermath of the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean this past autumn. Through his XO Humanitarian Fund, the world-recognized music icon and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has donated $350,000 to reinforce the WFP’s emergency response, enabling the organization to intensify efforts to reach up to 200,000 Jamaicans affected by the storm.
By the end of October Hurricane Melissa had impacted almost six million people across the Caribbean islands, with Jamaica bearing the weight of the Category 5 storm’s catastrophic destruction. Working alongside the Jamaican government, WFP has reached more than 9,000 people in Jamaica with essential food kits that include rice, lentils, canned proteins and vegetable oil. So far, WFP’s emergency distributions have reached 254,000 individuals across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti.
“We are grateful to The Weeknd for his generous support for WFP’s urgent relief efforts. His compassion will provide much-needed comfort and resilience to Jamaicans as they navigate this crisis,” said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA president and CEO, highlighting the important role private donors play in allowing rapid humanitarian action.
Fuelled by proceeds from his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, The Weeknd’s XO Humanitarian Fund continues to advocate for global hunger relief, strengthening the life-saving work of WFP as families work to rebuild and recover.
