By MUNA KHAN
Al Arabiya with Agencies
Ten thousand fans gathered at Palacio Vistalegre stadium in Madrid to listen to musicians like James Blunt, Enrique Iglesias and Kate Ryan and support UN efforts to aid Libyan refugees.
The event, the seventh Primavera Pop Festival, was organized by 40 radio stations in a bid to raise awareness of refugees amongst the youth.
“We are very grateful to 40 Principales for this solidarity initiative to support UNHCR in its 60th year,” Maricela Daniel, UNHCR's representative in Spain, said at the concert.
“It is a great opportunity for us to bring the refugee cause closer to a motivated young public,” she said.
The concert was expected to raise 50,000 Euros which the United Nations High Commission for Refugees hopes to use for the protection of those displaced by the ongoing conflict in Libya.
The UN estimates that one million people have fled the conflict since it began in February in Libya and have moved to Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Niger and Algeria.
Apart from the main attractions, other performers included Alexandra Stan, Carlos Jean y Nana, Dani Martín, Despistaos, El Pescao, La Musicalité, Macaco, Maldita Nerea, Melendi, Malú, Mohombi, Robert Ramírez, Soraya, Taio Cruz, and The Monomes.
According to UNHCR, Goodwill Ambassador Jesús Vázquez, “who is a popular TV presenter in Spain, sent a video message to the fans and several of the performers spoke about refugees.”
Many of the performers also joined the UNHCR campaign, “Put yourself in a Refugee’s Shoes,” by recording video messages to show their support, wearing campaign T-shirts.
The campaign will be launched in Spain on World Refugee Day on June 20.
(Muna Khan, Editor of Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: muna.khan@mbc.net)
