Media Center

Natural and man-made disasters – earthquakes, floods, droughts and wars – regularly put lives at risk. And babies caught in the ensuing chaos are vulnerable to malnutrition and death.

Journalists have an important role in helping to protect infants in the current earthquake emergency by reminding audiences to promote and support surviving mothers to continue breastfeeding their babies, and to protect them from uncalled-for breastmilk substitutes which can harm their babies. Breastmilk is a reliable and sterile food that helps to prevent illness, while formula feeding may further add to the health risks.

Why are infants vulnerable?

Babies have specific nutritional needs and are born with an undeveloped immune system. For infants who are breastfed, breastmilk provides both food and immune support, which protects them from the worst of emergency conditions. However, the situation is very different for babies who are not breastfed. In an emergency, food supplies are disrupted, the water and facilities may not be clean enough to make up infant formula or to clean feeding utensils and the health care system is stretched. This means that babies who are not breastfed are vulnerable to infections especially diarrhoea. Babies with diarrhoea easily become malnourished and dehydrated putting them at high risk of death. Whenever there is an emergency, it is extremely important that babies who are already being breastfed continue to do so and if this is not possible, they should be given infant formula in the safest possible way.

What about young children?

It is not only babies that are vulnerable. Under five year olds, and especially children under two years, are at risk of increased illness and death in emergencies. Breastfeeding still protects these children and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding be continued until at least 2 years of age. Young children also need enough nourishing food that is safely prepared – this too can be a real challenge in an emergency.

What is the problem?

Past experience has shown that when there is an emergency, massive amounts of infant formula and powdered milk are commonly donated. Some donations are a direct result of media appeals for infant formula. These may originate with aid agencies, governments or from individual efforts to help. Media coverage of surviving infants may generate public pressure on governments to bring in formula. In the confusion that surrounds emergencies, these products are often distributed in an uncontrolled way and used by mothers who would otherwise breastfeed their babies. This results in unnecessary illness and death for many infants. For instance, a UNICEF audit after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia found that although breastfeeding rates were initially very high, 70% of children under six months had been given donated infant formula. In another example, a Centre for Disease Classification (CDC) investigation of the post-flood deaths of more than 500 children in Botswana in 2005-06, found that nearly all of the babies who died were formula fed. Here the risk of hospitalisation for babies who were not breastfed was 50 times greater than that of breastfed infants. It is also extremely common for powdered milk to be distributed as a part of general rations. However, this is also problematic since experience has shown that about half of such milk will be given to babies.

How can journalists help?

The media has an important role to play in protecting babies in emergency situations by disseminating information that will protect breastfeeding and promote the appropriate and safe use of infant formula and powdered milk.

Members of the media can assist by including the following messages in their stories:

• Supporting mothers to continue breastfeeding is the surest way of protecting infants in emergencies.

• Breastfeeding normally adds no burden to women. Women who are physically and emotionally stressed are able to resume breastfeeding and make enough milk for their babies.

• The indiscriminate use of infant formula in an emergency is dangerous to babies, causing illness and death.

• Emergency workers need to carefully assess the needs for orphans and babies whose mothers were severely affected

• Members of the public who become aware of aid agencies distributing infant formula or powdered milk inappropriately should report these activities to the relevant authorities.

How can babies and young children be protected in emergencies?

There are accepted guidelines for the management of infant feeding in emergencies: