U2 and Jay-Z have collaborated to write a song in an effort to raise money and awareness for the plight of the people of Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake decimated their country on January 12.

The unimaginable loss of life and devastation that has hit the nation has only worsened as thousands are in peril in Haiti because of a lack of basic supplies.

The lack of antibiotics and basic medical supplies now means that injured survivors of the earthquake are now dying of very treatable conditions.

Producer Swizz Beatz conjured up the idea of the mega rapper and celebrated rock outfit combining for the Haitian cause. Beatz tweeted the following update:

"Me, Bono, Hova (Jay-Z), have something to say about Haiti. Stay tuned. I told you I was working on something amazing for Haiti They need us!"

The Edge shed further light on the project on his own twitter page when he wrote:

"Last night we wrote a song. Bono got a call from a producer, Swizz. He and Jay-Z wanted to do something for Haiti. So, Bono came up with the phrase on the phone, and last night we were here, we wrote a song - finished, recorded and send (sic) back to them. So, that might be the next thing you hear from us!"

U2 and Jay-Z have performed together before, when the rapper was the band’s special guest at a gig at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate last November as part of the MTV European Music Awards.