According to the United Nations Nutrition Cluster, breastfeeding must be a vital part of the emergency response in strife-torn Northern Africa. The Cluster called for support for appropriate infant and young-child feeding, saying that breastfeeding gives “critical protection” in civil emergencies. It also warned against “potentially harmful donations” of breast-milk substitutes and other milk products.

A joint statement by UNICEF, WHO, WFP, Save the Children, and International Medical Corps urged “all who are involved in funding, planning and implementing the emergency response in Northern Africa to avoid unnecessary illness and death by promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding and by preventing uncontrolled distribution and use of breast-milk substitutes.”

The Nutrition Cluster said that in emergencies children under five are at a greater risk of death and disease than other age group. This is due to the “the combined impact of a greatly increased prevalence of communicable diseases and diarrhoea and possible increase in rates of under-nutrition. High concentration of people can be a major risk for water- borne diseases affecting large numbers of people.

“Breastfeeding confers critical protection from infection in environments without safe water supply and sanitation.”

The Cluster said it is a misconception that stress and food shortages prevent mothers from continuing to breastfeed during emergencies. “Although stress can temporarily interfere with the flow of breast milk, it is not likely to inhibit breast milk production, provided mothers and infants remain together and are supported to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Mothers who lack food or who are malnourished can still breastfeed.”

The Cluster cautioned against donations or procurement of breast-milk substitutes.

“In accordance with internationally accepted guidelines, donations of infant formula, bottles and teats and other powdered or liquid milk and milk products should not be made,” it said. “Experience with past emergencies has shown an excessive quantity of products, which are poorly targeted, endangering infants’ lives. Any use and procurement of breast-milk substitutes (BMS) should be based on careful needs assessment and UNICEF can provide technical assistance.”

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