General News, 1st prize
Original caption from World Press Photo (1995)
Bodies are hastily shoveled into a mass grave. Chaos and suffering in the border area near Goma, where over a million Rwandans have sought sanctuary from the horrendous civil war in their own country. The Red Cross erected tents in this area for 4,000 abandoned children in dire need of help. Hospital facilities had not yet been established and without the equipment to drill wells or dig latrines, little could be done to stop the cholera epidemic spreading. Within 24 hours of the first case being confirmed, more than 800 people died of the disease.
As part of a review of our online archive, some images have limited access to protect the privacy of the individuals photographed. This image is only available on request for research purposes. Please request access by emailing our team. Read more about our work on our online archive.
More information
Imaging Famine project
"Imaging Famine" was a research project that studied the historical representation of famine in media, examining the persistent use of famine imagery across time and place. It explored the relationship between photography, anthropology, and colonialism, with a focus on the political implications of photography.
Through a Glass Darkly, by Robert Godden, published on Witness in September 2017
How should vulnerable children be represented in the media? Are we guilty of applying different ethical standards dependent on the race, ethnicity, nationality, location, gender or class of the child? Robert Godden explores these questions and provides guidelines for photojournalists and organizations.
Original caption from World Press Photo (1995)
An emaciated child is held upright by an aid worker. Chaos and suffering in the border area near Goma, where over a million Rwandans have sought sanctuary from the horrendous civil war in their own country. The Red Cross erected tents in this area for 4,000 abandoned children in dire need of help. Hospital facilities had not yet been established and without the equipment to drill wells or dig latrines, little could be done to stop the cholera epidemic spreading. Within 24 hours of the first case being confirmed, more than 800 people died of the disease.
As part of a review of our online archive, some images have limited access to protect the privacy of the individuals photographed. This image is only available on request for research purposes. Please request access by emailing our team. Read more about our work on our online archive.
More information
Imaging Famine project
"Imaging Famine" was a research project that studied the historical representation of famine in media, examining the persistent use of famine imagery across time and place. It explored the relationship between photography, anthropology, and colonialism, with a focus on the political implications of photography.
Through a Glass Darkly, by Robert Godden, published on Witness in September 2017
How should vulnerable children be represented in the media? Are we guilty of applying different ethical standards dependent on the race, ethnicity, nationality, location, gender or class of the child? Robert Godden explores these questions and provides guidelines for photojournalists and organizations.
Tom Stoddart
Katz Pictures
Katz Pictures
01 July, 1994
Some people cover their faces because they mistakenly assume that cholera is transmitted through the air. Chaos and suffering in the border area near Goma, where over a million Rwandans have sought sanctuary from the horrendous civil war in their own country. The Red Cross erected tents in this area for 4,000 abandoned children in dire need of help. Hospital facilities had not yet been established and without the equipment to drill wells or dig latrines, little could be done to stop the cholera epidemic spreading. Within 24 hours of the first case being confirmed, more than 800 people died of the disease.
Tom Stoddart
In 1978 he moved to London and began working freelance for publications such as the Sunday Times and Time Magazine. During a long and varied career he has witnessed such interna...
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