Chronic diseases

Infant Feeding in Emergencies: Strengthening Baby-Friendly Communities for Resilience and Preparedness. The international workshop

On 19 December 2025, the international online workshop “Infant Feeding in Emergencies: Strengthening Baby-Friendly Communities for Resilience and Preparedness” took place, organised within the framework of the Joint Action (JA) PreventNCD, Task 6.5 “Baby-Friendly Communities and Health Services”.

The event brought together public health experts, health and humanitarian professionals, researchers, and representatives of international organisations, with the aim of exploring the role of infant and young child feeding in emergencies as a key component of the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and of health system resilience.

Infant feeding in emergencies: a public health priority

Throughout the workshop, the central role of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding and appropriate infant and young child feeding was highlighted as a life-saving intervention, particularly in crisis settings. Emergencies of different kinds, from armed conflicts to natural disasters and migration, significantly increase health risks for newborns, infants and young children, especially when access to health services, safe water and adequate food is disrupted.

In these contexts, breastfeeding plays a crucial role in reducing infant morbidity and mortality, protecting maternal health, and acting as a key factor for equity and sustainability. It was also emphasised that feeding practices in the early years of life have long-term effects across the life course, influencing future NCD risk.

The contribution of the JA PreventNCD

The workshop was part of the activities of the JA PreventNCD, which involves 25 European countries and aims to strengthen NCD prevention through an integrated approach addressing key risk factors at both individual and societal levels.

In particular, Task 6.5, coordinated by Italy and Norway, promotes the implementation of Baby-Friendly Communities and Health Services to improve breastfeeding rates and create health-promoting environments. Discussions highlighted how emergency preparedness can be strengthened by systematically integrating infant and young child feeding into Baby-Friendly services and communities, transforming routine good practices into effective tools for crisis and emergency response.

Consult the programme (pdf 412 Kb) and watch the video recording of the workshop held on 19 December 2025.

Workshop contributions: international field experiences, operational tools and good practices

Contributions from participating organisations provided an overview of evidence, breastfeeding data and existing support policies, highlighting several persistent challenges. These include low exclusive breastfeeding rates in several European countries, heterogeneity of indicators and difficulties in comparing monitoring systems, as well as weaknesses in the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, particularly in emergency contexts.

Contributions from World Health Organization (WHO) Europe and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) framed infant and young child feeding in emergencies as a public health priority across the life course, underlining the role of structural emergency preparedness policies and the full implementation of the International Code in different contexts.

A specific focus was dedicated to the role of the Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group and the Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies, recognised as a global reference for policy-makers and professionals involved in emergency response. The importance of clear policies, staff training, intersectoral coordination, appropriate management of donations and responsible communication, including collaboration with the media, was also emphasised.

The workshop presented operational experiences from different international contexts, offering concrete insights into how infant feeding can be protected and integrated into emergency responses under very different conditions. In particular:

• from the Caribbean region, the role of supporting countries affected by recurrent climate-related emergencies was highlighted, in particular with regard to breastfeeding support and the appropriate management of breast-milk substitutes during hurricanes.
• from Italy, the integration of infant and young child feeding into municipal Civil Protection emergency plans was presented, together with training and simulation activities involving local authorities and volunteer personnel, highlighting the key role of territorial governance in preparedness.
• from Gaza, a humanitarian response in a context of armed conflict was described, based on integrated breastfeeding support interventions and strict management of breast-milk substitutes, aimed at reducing the risks associated with formula feeding in situations of extreme vulnerability.
• from Australia, it emerged that following the 2019-2020 bushfires, the development of dedicated tools and resources for families and health and humanitarian professionals contributed to strengthening national preparedness, highlighting the importance of planning and preventive communication even in high-income countries.
• from Ukraine, an innovative example was presented of the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence–based solutions to ensure continuity of information, counselling and support for mothers in a context of armed conflict and limited access to services.

In the concluding sessions, it was emphasised that investing in infant feeding in emergencies should not be considered an extraordinary action, but rather a structural component of building healthy, resilient and equitable communities.

The JA PreventNCD represents an important opportunity to strengthen dialogue between countries, harmonise policies and translate evidence into concrete actions, including at European level. The workshop confirmed the need to continue working on policy integration, capacity building, monitoring and advocacy, enhancing the role of Baby-Friendly Communities as key strategies for the health of future generations, both in ordinary conditions and in emergencies.