Cyclone devastation in Myanmar

Experience from recent emergencies in Bangladesh, North Korea and Indonesia, as well as elsewhere, highlights the need for governments, NGOs, UN agencies, donors and civil society to work together to
promote proper infant and young child feeding. 

It is common that well-intentioned donations of breast milk substitutes and milk powders are made in the
early days of a response. Without careful planning and programming of these donations, their misuse can be serious in terms of worsening nutritional status and survival. It is important that the emergency response promote appropriate infant and young child feeding and support early recovery efforts.

A regional meeting on Infant Feeding in Emergencies was held in Indonesia in March 2008 : a joint statement was proposed at this meeting to call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding in
emergencies."

	See the Model Joint Statement
	Participants from the Bali meeting also made a Pledge for Action

For Operational Guidance for emergency relief staff and Policy makers on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies, go to http://www.ennonline.net the website of the Emergency Nutrition Network. The
Operational Guidance has been translated into many different languages and is supported by a large
number of agencies including donors.

See also UNICEF - At a glance: Myanmar
Breastfeeding vital for Myanmar’s cyclone-affected children