Bono, Youssou N’Dour & New Africa

The United Nation says that famine has spread to six out of eight regions in southern Somalia. An estimated 75,000 people are facing “imminent starvation” and at least half of the people dying each day are children, according to Reuters.

The benefit concert, which will take place sometime in 2012, is meant to raise funds and awareness about the hunger crisis. The concert is part of an initiative called New Africa. 

N’Dour talked about the initiative during a news conference Wednesday.

“We are launching an initiative called New Africa, including African countries and friends of Africa, starting with the ideas of the youth,” N’Dour said. “The youth are the future of our continent.”

The singer previously worked with the U2 frontman when they campaigned at the G8 summit for debt relief and against HIV/AIDS and malaria.

“[Bono] called me to tell me … ‘You can count on me because I’m a friend of Africa and I’m going to support you completely,’” N’Dour said.

The two musicians are also planning what Reuters describes as a global Olympic-style torch relay, which will tour the world from September through February.

N’Dour said that young people will have the chance to enter a competition to design the “solidarity torch.” The relay will include events in participating countries supporting the campaign such as the 2012 African Nations Cup soccer tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Click here for the Reuters story about the New Africa initiative.

Click here for the Reuters story about the recent United Nations report.