The Breastfeeding in Humanitarian Crisis Settings project reached an important milestone in its work toward developing practical, evidence-based procedures to help humanitarian organizations better support mothers and infants affected by floods, earthquakes, displacement and armed conflict. 

We convened leading experts and organizations in London this July to move the work forward. Representing the project's technical advisory and working groups were Dr. Amira Khan and Georgia Dominguez, The Hospital for Sick Children; Dr. Ernest Asiedu, National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, Ghana; Dr. Francesco Branca, Invited Professor at the University of Geneva; Dr. Katharina Lichtner and Sarah Schmitter; FLRF; Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, The Aga Khan University and The Hospital for Sick Children; Dr. Saskia de Pee, United Nations World Food Programme; Michelle Gaffey, The Hospital for Sick Children; and Dr. Neha Singh, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Micronutrient Forum 7^th Global Conference

In October, FLRF brought the topic onstage in Accra at the Micronutrient Forum 7^th Global Conference (MNF 2026) with a timely symposium: ‘Operationalizing Breastfeeding Across Health Systems – Humanitarian Emergencies and Maternal Micronutrition’. FLRF Managing Director Dr. Katharina Lichtner and global experts shared how we are integrating the experiences of mothers and frontline workers with global guidance to develop practical, cost-effective support measures for acute emergencies and long-term displacement settings. The project is a partnership with The Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). 

The symposium also touched on micronutrient supplementation (MMS). A recognized tool to nourish pregnant women and improve outcomes for infants, MMS is now being investigated for its potential to meet the continued high-nutrient needs of breastfeeding women.

We aim to fill the knowledge gap with the hope of extending MMS benefits for mothers throughout the breastfeeding period. More news from FLRF and its partner, the Health Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium, to follow… 

The symposium was presented by Dr. Martha Mwangome, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI); Dr. Katharina Lichtner, FLRF; Georgia Dominguez, The Hospital for Sick Children; Dr. Martin Mwangi, Micronutrient Forum; and Dr. Michaela Turan, FLRF.  

Watch the recording. (insert link when ready)