Celebs raise $5.4m for Palestine, Sudan children at LA concert

'Artists for Aid' express political solidarity, perform for children's medical care in both countries

LOS ANGELES:

The third 'Artists for Aid' concert has raised $5.4 million for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) and the Sudanese American Physicians Association, in Los Angeles.

The concert aimed to refocus on relief for children and medical care in the devastated Palestinian territories and Sudan through music.

Mustafa said during the event that he knew an artist's power came from the expansion of their empathy.

Bella Hadid seemed to be impressed by the number of people who showed up for the concert. Pascal indicated the two main causes behind the concert: the peoples of Palestine and Sudan.

"Families living through unimaginable loss, displacement, hunger, violence, tonight we attempt to shield them from genocide, working to erase them. Even remembering is a protest and I truly, truly stand by that," she said.

"No matter what we can do in the world by just speaking, by loving and making sure they always feel heard is something that is most important in the entire world."

She urged all to keep raising their voices and thus ensure those families and children know how much everyone stood with them.

Personalities at the concert held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles included Alex G, Blood Orange, Clairo, Daniel Caesar, Faye Webster, Geese, Jazmine Sullivan, Lucy Dacus, Mustafa, Noor Hindi, Omar Apollo, Raphael Saadiq, Rayn Lenae, Rex Orange County, Safia Elhillo, Shawn Mendes, Snoh Aalegra, Tamino and 070 Shake.

Chappell Roan made a surprise visit during the concert.

Omar Apollo, meanwhile, endearingly forgot the lyrics to his hit "Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me At All)" and sang them off his phone!

The night's most prominent performances addressing the crises in the two countries came from Palestinian American and Sudanese American poets Noor Hindi and Safia Elhillo.

Two evacuated children from Gaza were also in the crowd which was moved to see them attend the concert in person.

The concert was not the first relief effort organised to raise funds for Palestine, but it appeared to be one of the first large-scale efforts for Sudan.

In October, a Pride and Prejudice table-read starring Ambika Mod and Daisy Ridley was held to raise funds and in September, $2 million was raised through a benefit concert hosted by industry heavyweights, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicola Coughlan, Florence Pugh, and Richard Gere, among many others.

Though Hamas and Israel signed a truce on October 9, halting two years of devastating warfare, Amnesty International says Israel is still committing genocide in Gaza. At least 68,000 Palestinians were killed in Israel's assault that left hospitals, schools, and homes devastated.

Sudan has been facing a vicious civil war since April 2023. Reported atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces - the main paramilitary militia fighting the Sudanese military - in the town of El-Fasher recently brought the world's focus to the brutal conflict.

The RSF laid siege to the town for 18 months before finally capturing it. Eyewitnesses described scenes of absolute horror - bodies lying in the streets, mass executions, rape and torture. Famine has also been confirmed in parts of the affected area. The International Criminal Court has said that the brutalities committed in El-Fasher could constitute crimes against humanity.

Hadid's modeling career began when she was sixteen years old with a commercial project for Flynn Skye. She also appeared in modeling projects such as Lesa Amoore's "The Swan Settings", alongside actor Ben Barnes, and Holly Copeland's "Smoking Hot". Hadid also modeled for Hanna Hayes' Fall/Winter 2013 Collection, and did campaign work for Chrome Hearts, the family brand[clarification needed] of her best friend, Jesse Jo Stark.

Hadid signed to IMG Models on August 21, 2014. She made her New York Fashion Week debut in September, walking for Desigual. In December, Hadid made her first cover appearance on Jalouse, and was featured on day 27 of Love magazine's Love Advent Calendar.

In February 2015, Hadid made her runway debut, walking for Tom Ford's Fall/Winter 2015 collection. In April, she was featured in two editions of Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book – "Body By Bella" and "Fantasy Campaigns". In May, she walked for amfAR's 22nd Cinema Against AIDS Gala.