UNICEF

Orlando Bloom was in Liberia over the weekend to visit with families affected by the horrific Ebola outbreak, and this was all part of his duties as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

The 38-year-old actor is the first celeb to visit the region since the outbreak, and he released a statement about his trip, which wrapped up on Monday. "Everyone I met was determined to beat Ebola so that they can resume their normal lives," Bloom said. "Communities have been at the center of the fight against Ebola and must continue to be supported because of their crucial role in getting to zero cases."

Bloom met with religious and youth leaders in the capital city of Monrovia, but he also chatted with a number of families who lost loved ones. After meeting with a man who lost his wife, two sons and two daughters to the disease, Bloom added, "It's quite hard to comprehend such a loss. They're all just dealing with loss like that at such a profound level." Bloom, who has a 4-year-old son, Flynn, appeared especially emotional after sitting down with the man, who was raising his 6-year-old boy.

Bloom also stopped by a school on the border of Sierra Leone to observe the Ebola school safety measures that were put into place after schools reopened following a seven-month shutdown, and he said, "Because of this outbreak, a million children in Liberia have had their school year cut in half. They're excited to be back in the classroom but the precautions every single one of them must follow every day are a reminder of the need to remain vigilant."