Band Aid 30, the music industry fundraising initiative, has donated the first £1.8m raised from an updated version of the single 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?' to 18 charities to help fight the Ebola virus.

Band Aid was originally launched in 1984 to raise money to combat famine in Ethiopia, and received initial funding from a fundraising single. Since then a charity, the Band Aid Trust, has made regular donations to the sector. The most recent single was recorded at the end of last year by a new group of artists, with updated lyrics.

The largest beneficiaries of the first tranche of donations have been ActionAid, Christian Aid and Doctors of the World, each of which received £200,000. The money will be spent on providing food and aid to those affected by the outbreak, and on strengthening the medical response to Ebola.

Band Aid 30 was the fastest-selling single of 2014, and raised £1m in its first day. However it has also attracted widespread criticism for patronising and inappropriate lyrics, and for portraying Africa in a negative light.