Starting today, Thursday, Oscar winner Ben Affleck will be visiting refugee camps in war-torn eastern Congo, where at least 250,000 people have been displaced by recent fighting.
Violet’s daddy is hoping to bring more attention to the country and is advocating for more aid in the region.
This is Ben’s 4th trip to Congo since 2007.
He’s also made a documentary about the dire situation in the country.
“I’m really glad that more people are paying more attention to (Congo) now but I’m really saddened that it’s taken this uptick in violence to make that happen,” says the actor. “My hope in being here is primarily to bring attention to the fact that there’s a real lack of (aid agencies) here, a real lack of money going to these folks.”
Affleck told reporters that he first became interested in Congo a few years ago, when Hollywood’s attentions began to focus on Darfur.
“I thought a lot of people are advocating on Darfur. I’d just be a very small log on a big fire. I started getting interested in Congo and I thought, this is a place where I can have a really big impact” he said.
After doing more research on Africa, he was shocked to learn about Congo’s four-year war, during which an estimated 5 million people died.
So sad.
Click here to learn about how you can help the children of Congo.
[Image via WENN.]
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