Our mission is to ensure that every baby can be safely fed during a crisis. Whether the emergency is a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or man-made disaster, families with infants face urgent and often life-threatening challenges. To respond effectively, we need not only supplies and trained responders but also strong, evidence-based guidance.
That’s where the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Repository comes in.
Created by the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) in collaboration with leading global partners, this repository is a living collection of peer-reviewed research focused specifically on IYCF in humanitarian contexts. Updated quarterly, it organizes decades of scientific findings into one searchable hub, making it easier for practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to access the knowledge they need.
Why This Matters
- For practitioners: Rapid access to evidence helps design safer feeding programs on the ground.
- For researchers: A consolidated database highlights both what we know and where the gaps remain.
- For policymakers: Evidence supports stronger national and state preparedness policies.
- For communities: Trusted knowledge helps build resilience before the next disaster strikes.
Moving Toward a National Focus
At the SAFE Team, we are bringing together resources, training materials, breastfeeding coalition, and networks to support a national movement for safe infant feeding in emergencies. While our roots are in North Carolina, the challenges of IYCF-E are shared across the United States. From hurricanes in the Southeast to wildfires in the West and flooding in the Midwest, families everywhere deserve coordinated, evidence-driven support.
The IYCF-E Repository is a critical piece of this puzzle. By connecting responders and advocates to global research, we can adapt lessons learned worldwide to strengthen our own national preparedness.
Explore and Share
We encourage everyone in our community—students, clinicians, emergency planners, and advocates—to explore the IYCF-E Repository and share it with colleagues. Together, we can ensure that infant feeding is never an afterthought in emergency response, but a core part of how we protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of our communities.