U2’s lead singer Bono has urged Congress to tackle the global refugee crisis and end violent extremism.
The Irish multi-millionaire musician and businessman gave evidence to a Senate Appropriations sub-committee on Tuesday in which he said politicians must view state-funded foreign aid donations as a national security measure rather than as charity.
Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, painted a bleak picture of trouble spots in the Middle East, Asia and Africa and said the plight of people living there has resulted in a vast wave of uncontrolled migration.
He said members of Congress must confront the resulting “existential threat” to Europe and claimed no similar crisis has been seen since the 1940s.
He cited three extremes – violence, poverty and climate change – as responsible for the situation, warning: “You should be very nervous in America about it.”
He also called on Congress to come up with some “big ideas” to solve the issue.
Before speaking to the committee Bono, who runs the anti-poverty ONE Foundation, posed for photographs with members of the women-led campaigning group Code Pink.
