New All-Island Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies
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A major new report co-led by Technological University Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, with support from the North-South Research Programme, has called for urgent, all-island action to ensure infants and young children are protected during emergencies.
Titled “Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies on the Island of Ireland: A Guidance Document for Creating an All-Island Preparedness Plan,” the report identifies critical gaps in Ireland’s emergency planning systems and outlines the steps needed to strengthen national resilience for the future.
While emergencies, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or infrastructure disruptions, impact everyone, infants and young children are especially vulnerable. Disruptions to food supply chains, water quality, or breastfeeding support can significantly increase the risk of malnutrition, illness, and even mortality. Despite these risks, Ireland currently has no integrated, cross-border plan for protecting infant and young child nutrition in emergency scenarios.
Led by TU Dublin’s Dr Aileen Kennedy and Dr Liz O’Sullivan, alongside Dr Clare Patton (Queen’s University Belfast / University of Leeds), the research emphasises the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling complex, shared challenges. By pooling expertise across both jurisdictions, the project sets out a coordinated approach to ensuring the well-being of children and families, north and south.
Dr Liz O’Sullivan said, “Our research, and recent experiences of parents during storm Éowyn, have highlighted that families are not prepared or supported to manage infant and young child feeding during crises.
“Too long, emergency response systems nationally and internationally have assumed that parents will simply look after small children in emergencies. However, that’s a simplistic viewpoint, and in reality, parents may need considerable support to do so.
To ensure Ireland is more resilient in the face of future emergencies, we must: protect, promote, and support breastfeeding now, ensure reliable access to affordable commercial milk formula (without promotion of same), provide families with the information and skills they need to prepare for emergencies, and ensure we have trained professionals ready to provide assistance and support to families in the face of an emergency that impacts infant and young child feeding.”
Dr Aileen Kennedy remarked, "The EU’s new Preparedness Union Strategy recognises that crises are becoming more complex and unpredictable, and that we must be proactive rather than reactive. This is especially true for infants and young children, who are among the most vulnerable in any emergency due to their unique nutritional needs, limited nutrient reserves, and immature immune systems. Without the right support, they are at high risk of malnutrition and illness, which can have lasting consequences for their growth, development, and future potential.
"While we cannot predict exactly when emergencies will occur, climate change, global instability, and other emerging threats mean disruptions are becoming more likely. Ireland must take a forward-thinking approach, ensuring that infant and young child feeding is embedded into emergency preparedness planning at all levels, in line with wider EU resilience efforts. Families should not be left without the support they need when a crisis strikes”.