Rap Star 50 Cent: ‘Visit to Somali Refugee Camp Was Devastating’

American rap star Curtis Jackson, known to fans as 50 Cent, calls the sights he saw in a refugee camp in Somalia “devastating.” The United Nations World Food Program recently hosted Jackson on a tour of Somalia and Kenya so he could see the fight against hunger in the Horn of Africa. (..) Jackson spoke Thursday about a visit to the Kabasa camp in southern Somalia’s Dolow region, where thousands have sought refuge from war and drought. Jackson said women and children risked everything just to get food.

American rap star Curtis Jackson, known to fans as 50 Cent, calls the sights he saw in a refugee camp in Somalia “devastating.”

The United Nations World Food Program recently hosted Jackson on a tour of Somalia and Kenya so he could see the fight against hunger in the Horn of Africa.

Jackson spoke Thursday about a visit to the Kabasa camp in southern Somalia’s Dolow region, where thousands have sought refuge from war and drought. Jackson said women and children risked everything just to get food.

He also visited a school in a Nairobi slum, saying meeting the kids was inspiring. He said they have nothing but are still positive and optimistic.

In this photo released by the World Food Programme (WFP), rapper Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, center, visits children in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. The rap star teamed up with WFP to fly to Dolo, Somalia on Wednesday and Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday and has committed to provide 1 billion meals for the hungry and donate to WFP 10 cents from every sale of a new energy drink that he is promoting, according to WFP. (Rose Ogola / World Food Programme). Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/50-Cent-visits-famine-victims-in-Somalia-Kenya-3186860.php#ixzz1m7U7PJLU

Jackson is urging everyone to join him to help feed children in need. He pledged last year to provide one-billion meals and said he will donate 10 cents from every sale from his new energy drink called Street King to the World Food Program.

The U.N. last week declared an end to Somalia’s six-month famine, though it said tens of thousands of people still need food aid to survive. The British government estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 people died from the famine’s effects.

Jackson recently published photographs of his experiences in Somali through Twitter and shared his mission with followers.

“So I just got back from Somalia it was crazy out there,” Jackson tweeted. “I have never seen anything like it. I’m going to feed a billion people Street King.”

The rapper, actor and philanthropist is working with the World Food Programme to donate proceeds from his Street King energy drink to those in need. For every drink sold, Jackson also made a public pledge to donate a meal to a hungry child.

After flying to Somalia’s southern border region on Wednesday, Jackson expressed how inspired he was to help.

“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,” Jackson said in a WFP report. “I hope more people will join me to help end this devastating situation. These women and children have risked everything to come to this Somalia camp, just to get food.They need our help.”

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