Share

Beyoncé performs, records video at UN

New York - US R&B singer Beyoncé has recorded a video clip in the hall of the UN General Assembly that will be used to celebrate World Humanitarian Day 19 August.

The solemn chamber was transformed for the occasion on Friday, with an improvised stage and a gigantic arching screen.

Clad in a white dress with sequins, the winner of 16 Grammy Awards sang one of her hits, I was here, before images of floods and rescuers digging through rubble after an earthquake.

The video, which the singer offered as a donation to the UN, will be included in a campaign broadcast on the internet at www.whd-iwashere.org, illustrating the work of humanitarian organisations around the world.

The video will be accompanied by the testimonies of millions of volunteers.

"We all see the headlines and with think: 'What can I really do to help?' World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for all of us to work together to make a difference," Beyoncé said in a release.

World Humanitarian Day was established in 2008 to commemorate the attack on 19 August 2003 against the UN headquarters in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of 22 UN workers, including a UN special envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

His son, Laurent Vieira de Mello, was present at the event on Friday evening, as well as other personalities involved in humanitarian aid and entertainment.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE