Actually the point is that NO FOOD for babies needs to be sent to emergency 
areas. If there are babies that need to be artificially fed the organisation 
providing assistance to the carers need to procure the infant formula 
themselves (and locally so that instructions are in the appropriate 
language). If babies need to be artificially fed the organisation needs to 
strive to make the situation as FASS (feasible, affordable, sustainable and 
safe) as possible and yes this will include things like providing a contant 
supply of BMS, clean water, fuel, education, medical support etc.
Unsolicited donations are a huge problem. Yes the US is an important source 
of unsolicited donations in emergencies around the world- including via the 
military!! this happened in Osettia but fortunately there was advanced 
warning via the media and it was quarrantined before it could do damage but 
there have been reports in Afghanistan of soldiers handing out formula on 
the basis that if you have a baby you need formula.
Karleen Gribble
Australia



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Young" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 10:58 PM
Subject: VELB/infant feeding in emergencies


A lot of the discussion was about inappropriate formula supplies given in 
disasters.

Infant & Young Children Feeding in Emergencies - IFE
10 million young children die per year around the world.  WHO estimates that 
2 million lives could be saved by breastfeeding.

In disasters infants are at the highest risk of mortality.
Food stuffs sent to emergencies should not include formula.  Powder is most 
dangerous.

What should be sent needs to be AFASS
Acceptable
Feasible
Affordable
Safe
Sustainable
I'm sure you can all figure what factors goes into AFASS - water sources, 
finances, etc.  If a mom who is BF begins to use formula because it is 
freely handed out, she doesn't have any way to properly prepare it or pay 
for it long term and her breast milk supply declines and fails. The aid 
workers with the magic cans will be gone long before the child can eat on 
his/her own :-(
www.ennononline.net has a neat slide show on feeding infants and children in 
emergencies.
www.ibfan.org

Of course we all know that the best thing is to feed mom so she can feed 
baby/child!  Formula isn't well accepted by adults for nutrition (yuck 
taste) so it ends up being fed to animals.

One of the messages I got as an American is to find out what is being done 
at higher levels in US for disasters.  Of course the current financial 
disaster, altho not made by Mother Nature, will impact infant feeding in the 
US and around the world.
Many people do not realize that WIC free formula only sustains an infant in 
the first 2-3 mo.  After that they only get a partial supply of what a baby 
needs to grow.  As economic  times tighten over dilution  of formula becomes 
a real potential.

I am happy to say that I heard in Russia that babies nurse at least a year 
and I did not see formula blatantly on sale in the grocery stores I ventured 
into.  Pat in SNJ

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