A post forwarded by someone else on the subject. I think the reference at
the bottom looks particularly interesting.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

> NGO's and other aid organizations have very specific parameters for
> distribution of infant feeding aid in emergency situations.  While they
may
> not have lactation professionals on staff per se, they all have
> nutritionists trained specifically in international infant nutrition,
which
> specifically includes training per WHO guidelines for infant feeding.
> Distribution of artificial milks and inappropriate complementary foods is
> prohibited under WHO and other international aid guidelines.
Nutritionists
> and other aid workers are trained on basic support mechanisms for
> breastfeeding mothers, including supporting breastfeeding through crisis
> situations, providing a clean, quiet area for mothers to nurse their
babies,
> and support of maintenance of milk supply through compromised nutritional
> availability.  Specific infrastructure is in place for on-site aid workers
> to contact a lactation professional for more detailed
information/guidelines
> as needed.
>
> Absolutely things go wrong and inappropriate support has been offered.
> However, the policy and standards are in place to support breastfeeding as
> the most important nutritional source for infants and children in crisis
> situations.  The aid organizations have learned a lot from recent
conflicts
> and the importance of monitoring well intentioned but potentially harmful
> aid.  One of the biggest struggles international aid organizations often
> face in crisis situations is the sheer volume of donations (mainly from
> developed countries) of inappropriate items such as baby foods, bottles,
and
> artificial milks, making oversight and appropriate distribution extremely
> challenging.
>
> For additional reading on Best Practices and policies in infant feeding in
> emergencies, refer to the Infant Feeding in Emergencies report and
training
> modules, which are available to download from the Emergency Nutrition
> Network website at http://www.ennonline.net
>
> One of many published reports on this issue is available at:
>
> Borrell A, Taylor A, McGrath M, Seal A, Hormann E, Phelps L, and Mson F.
> (2001). From policy to practice: challenges in infant feeding in
emergencies
> during the Balkan crisis.  Disaster, Volume 25, No 2, June 2001, pp
149-163.
>

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