Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Ellie Goulding are among stars aiming to mobilise world leaders into doing more about the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

They have teamed up with figures such as Morgan Freeman, Thandie Newton and Will Ferrell to encourage further action to contain the outbreak in a drive launched by the One Campaign, founded by U2′s Bono.

The stars have filmed appearances in a new video focusing attention on the need to take action immediately, with each of them seen silently looking into the camera.

A caption on the screen says: “This is what waiting looks like… We waited too long to react. We can’t wait to stop crises like Ebola once and for all.”

After a rare shot of Bono without dark glasses, it concludes: “Talk is cheap – it’s time for action.”

Bono
Bono appears in the video (PA)

The film aims to encourage people around the world to sign One’s petition at one.org/ebola, demanding global leaders do more to end the outbreak and strengthen basic healthcare systems in developing countries.

The organisation said: “Ebola is a global crisis and defeating it will take the combined efforts of governments, businesses, relief groups and healthcare workers to bring it under control. One’s campaign is focused on ensuring that governments do their part.”

The latest initiative comes as a new version of the Band Aid song Do They Know It’s Christmas? has been released and will top the charts at the weekend, raising funds to ease the crisis and focus attention.