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Benefit concert featuring Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and Manic Street Preachers raises over $20 million for Ukrainian refugees

Ed Sheeran led the all-star line-up raising money for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. (Supplied)

A benefit concert featuring Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and Manic Street Preachers among others has raised more than $21 million for Ukrainian refugees.

Announced earlier this month, the two-hour live-streamed benefit show raised money for the Disasters Emergency Committee's (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

DEC was providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to refugees in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

The concert, organised by British free-to-air TV network ITV, took place live at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on Tuesday night (local time).

The line-up included Emeli Sandé, Gregory Porter, Snow Patrol, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Tom Odell, Paloma Faith, The Kingdom Choir, Anne-Marie and Becky Hill.

Hosted by UK radio presenters Roman Kemp, Marvin Humes and Emma Bunton, the broadcast combined music performances with interviews, backstage moments and short films recognising the ongoing relief efforts and the plight faced by people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

Online viewers were able to donate and proceeds from ticket sales and advertisers in the breaks went to the cause raising a total of 12.2 million pounds ($21.3 million) by the end of the concert, with donations still coming in.

Ed Sheeran sang two of his hits, Dancing in the Dark and Bad Habits, as well as a duet with Camila Cabello of their new song Bam Bam.

Cabello, who also performed Fix You, said she was "praying for the peace and safety for the people in Ukraine" and thanked the audience for "being a part of this super-important fundraiser".

Ukrainian Eurovision winner Jamal, who was forced to flee her home in Ukraine two weeks ago, took to the stage to perform a rendition of the song which won her the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016.

After her performance, Jamala held the flag aloft as she delivered a message of support to her fellow Ukrainian people.

The singer appeared on the verge of tears throughout much of her performance, which includes the lyrics: "Where is your heart? Humanity rise. You think you are gods, but everyone dies. Don't swallow my soul, our souls."

A poignant moment in the evening was a performance by young virtuoso violinist Illia Bondarenko who played the Ukrainian folk song Verbovaya Doschechka from a basement shelter in Kyiv along with 94 violinists from around the world.

Billie Eilish and Finneas also delivered a message of support via video link.

"We are so sorry we can’t be there tonight but we still wanted to offer all of our love and support to everyone performing and most importantly to express the support and solidarity with the millions of people who've been forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind," Eilish said.

During the concert, comedian, actor and presenter Mel Giedroyc talked about making a film about the children who'd been forced to flee Ukraine, saying that it was a personal story for her.

"The situation in Ukraine resonates very well with me because my own dad was a refugee about 80 odd years ago at the age of 10, and he was forcibly ejected from his home, and with his mum and his two sisters, faced a very, very perilous future, which is obviously what we're seeing every day now when we watch the news as if history is kind of repeating itself," Giedroyc said.

View the concert tonight on ABC TV Plus

The concert will screen on ABC TV Plus on Wednesday at 8:30pm.

Viewers will be able to donate money to the cause throughout the evening online through ABC Gives and via phone on 1300 939 000.

All proceeds will go to the Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) Ukraine Appeal, which enables 15 of Australia’s leading aid charities including Caritas Australia, Plan International Australia, Save the Children and Australia for UNHCR to deliver life-saving aid.

ABC managing director David Anderson said: "We've witnessed the generosity of ABC audiences with our bushfire, floods and end-of-year appeals.

"As the crisis in Ukraine intensifies, this event will be an important opportunity for our audience to come together through the power of music, show our whole-hearted support for Ukraine, and help make a difference to those affected through ABC Gives to fund the important work of EAA charities."

Viewers will also be able to catch up on the concert on ABC iview for 30 days after the broadcast and continue to donate via ABC Gives after the event has finished.

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