No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer who left the scene as soon as the photo was taken. He later confided to friends that he wished he intervened. Journalists at the time were warned never to touch famine victims for fear of contracting disease. - Ben Hanten

An amazing and utterly haunting image. - Derrick

This picture always hits me so hard. Reminds of what Fragile really means. - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

Haunting is exactly right. In a way, I wish I had never seen this picture. But it helps me forget about my silly problems. - Ben Hanten

If the person who took this picture walked away and left this child to die He needs to be beaten starved and then beaten again. NO way should that coward be awarded anything for this brutal picture. - Tony C (Unrated)

Tony, he committed suicide within months after receiving the Pulitzer - Ben Hanten

Two months after receiving his Pulitzer, Carter would be dead of carbon-monoxide poisoning in Johannesburg, a suicide at 33. His red pickup truck was parked near a small river where he used to play as a child; a green garden hose attached to the vehicle's exhaust funneled the fumes inside. "I'm really, really sorry," he explained in a note left on the passenger seat beneath a knapsack. "The pain of life overrides the joy to the point that joy does not exist." - Ben Hanten

Ben, didn't know that. That makes the story that much more heartbreaking. Damn. - Derrick

I get the whole "interfering thing, but I'd be haunted for life if I didn't do something. - Joshua Schnell

While tragic that a human died. I still have no pity for him. 1 KM he could have picked that child up and walked it to a safe place. DAMN I am still pissed about this picture - Tony C (Unrated)

:,( - Zulema ❧ spicy cocoa tart

I saw this photo in American Photo yesterday. When I saw it, it felt like a punch in the gut and it was all I could do not to burst into tears in the middle of a ferry full of commuters and tourists. - vicster.

I certainly can't defend his actions there, but pictures like these hopefully open up people's eyes to some of the real problems in the world. Maybe this pic helps more than we know. - Ben Hanten

This reminds me of the movie "beyond borders" - a must watch !! - Peter Dawson

Keep in mind. In cases of starvation and dehydration (as extreme as that child looks) there is little you can do without some serious medical attention. It's sad, but often, unless you have the proper supplies, you will make the situation FAR worse - the death far faster and more painful if you intervene. Best get them to a doctor...if you can. - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

vicster, I actually had to walk away from my desk right now, get some water and catch my breath. I've seen it before, but if I didn't just shed some tears, I'd be lying. - Derrick

The New York Times, after first publishing the photo, did a follow up to say that the girl did have enough strength to make it to the tent. However, they didn't know the ultimate fate of her. - Ben Hanten

Part of the suicide note "I am depressed ... without phone ... money for rent ... money for child support ... money for debts ... money!!! ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners...I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky." - Ben Hanten