February 9, 12

NEWS / Rap artist 50 Cent visits Horn of Africa with UN food relief agency

9 February 2012 –
The rap star Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, was able to see first-hand the food crisis in the Horn of Africa region during a field visit to Somalia and Kenya this week that was hosted by the United Nations food relief agency.

Mr. Jackson, who last year made a public commitment to provide one billion meals for the hungry, has been visiting various sites with the World Food Programme (WFP) such as a refugee camp in southern Somalia where thousands of women and children fleeing from drought and conflict have taken shelter.

“What I am seeing is devastating – these women and children have risked everything to come to this Somalia camp, just to get food,” he said. “They need our help.”

According to a news release issued by WFP today, during his visit to the Kabasa refugee camp, Mr. Jackson saw women and children being screened for malnutrition, and visited a nearby school.

Mr. Jackson also visited a school in a slum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where he met children, many of them orphans.

“To meet those kids was so inspiring. They have nothing, yet they are so positive and optimistic. I want to do my part so they get food and an education. I hope more people will join me to help end this devastating situation,” he said, reaffirming his determination to fight hunger in the region and raise awareness about this cause.

As part of Mr. Jackson’s fundraising efforts, he is donating money to WFP from the sales of his new energy drink, Street King. For every unit sold, he has pledged to donate 10 cents, which covers the typical cost of a WFP meal.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41188&Cr=horn+of+africa&Cr1=