34-year-old Birhan Woldu was just four-years-old when her image was captured by a Canadian camera crew in Ethiopa.
The photograph of Birhan, seemingly moments away from death at a Tigray feeding station, quickly encapsulated the importance of the Live Aid campaign.
However, thirty years on, Birhan laments the results of her iconic status and while acknowledging the efforts made to assist those living through the Ethiopian famine, she says the campaign has brought her misery,
Having been brought on stage by a delighted Sir Bob Geldof at Live 8 in 2005, the then 24-year-old Birhan looked the picture of health and was universally acknowledged as a symbol of hope and evidence of the incredible work undertaken by the campaign.
Obviously incredibly proud of his efforts, Bob urged the public to get behind these campaigns, saying: "Because of Live Aid 20 years ago … last week she did her agricultural exams in the school she goes to in the northern Ethiopian highlands. She is here. Don’t let them tell you that this doesn’t work. Look at this beautiful woman."
However, Birhan now claims the celebrity status foisted upon her as a result of the childhood image has been detrimental and her current situation is now only remotely better.
Opening up about her life, Birhan acknowledged her public image, saying: "For me, personally, Live Aid has done nothing. I am branded as the symbol of Live Aid due to the image of the 1980s. My stories are well documented and have reached the skies."
Unfortunately the publicity has not had the desired effect, with Birhan continuing: "But I live underground. The state I am in at this moment is miserable. I do not have a job and I cannot support my family on my own."
While praising the campaign to an extent, Birhan insists a different approach is needed, saying: "Food aid would only make people even more dependent for all their lives … but if people get education and get jobs, they can transform their lives and their country."
Congratulating Live Aid on its 30 year anniversary, Birhan suggests change is required, saying: "As an aid agency, I believe they could do more in terms of building schools and hospitals. I encourage them to do more in that regard. That way we can be able to transform our country and offer a better life for our children."
Birhan is currently separated and lives with her two daughters in a one-room house.
