The Weeknd is donating $1 million (R15m) for food relief to war-torn Ethopia.
The Can’t Feel My Face hitmaker wrote on Instagram on Sunday: “My heart breaks for my people of Ethiopia as innocent civilians ranging from small children to the elderly are being senselessly murdered and entire villages are being displaced out of fear and destruction.”
The star, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, was born in Toronto, Canada, to Ethiopian immigrants Makkonen and Samra Tesfaye.
The conflict in Ethiopia began in November after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) captured military bases in northern Ethiopia, according to the BBC. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive to oust the group.
Ongoing conflict is said to have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and displacing more than a million people.
The award-winner’s fund will provide two million meals through the United Nations World Food Programme.
He encouraged others to donate.
In June the 31-year-old donated $500 000 (R7m) each to MusiCares, an NPO for musicians, and to frontline hospital workers of the Scarborough Health Network in Ontario.
He also gave R7m to NPOs committed to racial equality and $300 000 (R4m) in the wake of the Beirut, Lebanon, explosion.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za
DONATION: Musician The Weeknd