Pavarotti and Bono to raise money for Iraq

8 April 2003

GENEVA/MODENA - The renowned Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, and the U2 Irish rock band leader, Bono, will raise funds for UNHCR's work on behalf of uprooted Iraqis during a charity concert next month in Modena, Italy. The May 27th event will be the 10th charity concert by "Pavarotti and Friends" - a group of performers from around the world who support Pavarotti's fund-raising efforts. It will be their fourth consecutive concert in support of the UN refugee agency.

The Modena concert this year will mark the second time Pavarotti and Bono will perform in a duet at a charity event. They first sang together in 1995, at the height of the Bosnia war along with The Edge and Brian Eno, in a performance that featured the song, "Miss Sarajevo."

Over the past 10 years, Pavarotti has performed jointly in Modena with a string of celebrities such as Zucchero, Sting, Dalla, Bryan Adams, Ligabue, Liza Minelli, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Laura Pausini, Caetano Veloso, Anastacia, James Brown, Lou Reed, Ricky Martin, Eric Clapton and many others. They have raised millions of dollars for UNHCR and other charity causes. Proceeds from this year's event will go to UNHCR's work on behalf of people affected by the Iraq conflict.

In response to the Iraq crisis, UNHCR has pre-positioned emergency supplies in countries bordering Iraq to prepare for a possible arrival of refugees. The agency is now ready to receive up to 350,000 people. Even though very few Iraqis left their country during the first three weeks of the conflict, aid officials warn that it is too early to dismiss the danger of a refugee crisis.

Tickets for the May 27 event can be purchased by calling telephone number: +39 051 528 6802.