His comments came on Tuesday after meeting with a number of Zimbabwean refugees in the South African border town of Musina, where thousands of Zimbabweans have fled to escape the collapse of their own country. An estimated three million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa, with thousands believed to be crossing the border every night. The border jumpers face numerous dangers in their desperate search for food, medicine and safety and there is no way of knowing how many do not survive the perilous journey.
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The journey itself is only half the battle and refugee camps across South Africa are overflowing with desperate asylum seekers. In Musina alone, more than 5000 refugees are camped out in the showgrounds there, and 250 new applications for asylum are registered per day.
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Damon, who along with fellow celebrity heavy-weights, George Clooney and Don Cheadle, started the Not on our Watch' humanitarian campaign, is using his influence as a high profile star to raise awareness about the Zimbabwean crisis. The Hollywood star visited a number of organisations set up to aid the refugees, and spent the time listening to the often harrowing stories of those Zimbabweans who were left with little choice but to leave.
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The actor told reporters the situation in South Africa is testament to the situation across the border in Zimbabwe, and said action must be taken. He called the situation shocking' and sad' and pledged to use his celebrity capital' to raise awareness about Zimbabwe. He said it was important to keep pressure on international and regional leaders to help Zimbabwe resolve its problems.
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I feel it is morally incumbent, (that) we who can get coverage, get coverage for something like this, rather than for the latest shampoo, he said
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By Alex Bell