Recommendations on how to address emergency food and nutrition needs in disaster preparedness

Despite the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, guidance to address emergency food and nutrition needs is limited. However, existing literature provides insights into how to effectively address emergency food and nutrition assistance.

A position paper recently issued by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) is in the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Nutritionthat it is essential for effective disaster recovery and resilience that affected individuals and communities have access to safe, nutritious and culturally and contextually appropriate foods and beverages, and receive emergency food and nutrition education before, during, and after a disaster.

Lead author Sheila Fleischhacker, Ph.D., JD, RDN, Georgetown University, explained, “Disasters limit survivors’ ability to access adequate, safe, and nutritious foods and beverages. These challenges are even more difficult for communities who have unequal access to food retail outlets and safe drinking water before a disaster Even if a food retail outlet is accessible, culturally and contextually appropriate foods and beverages may not be available or affordable.”

The paper drew extensively from a diverse range of resources, incorporating research articles, studies, and other relevant materials related to disaster relief programs and their effectiveness. These sources provided comprehensive insights into various aspects of disaster response and recovery efforts, including, but not limited to, assessment of existing relief initiatives, evaluations of their effectiveness, and identification of best practices better.

By synthesizing findings from a wide range of scholarly and practical sources, the position paper provides an understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in addressing emergency food and nutrition needs during disasters.

The position paper recommends a multifaceted approach to improving emergency food and nutrition education across all phases of disaster management. Recommendations include improving communication and outreach by identifying and disseminating best practices adapted to different cultural contexts. In addition, fostering community engagement and local preparedness involves gathering community needs, building local capacity, and emphasizing nutritional considerations within disaster preparedness initiatives.

It involves training current professionals and the next generation of public health leaders to integrate emergency nutrition components into interdisciplinary disaster management curricula, emphasizing the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Together these recommendations aim to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts by embedding food and nutrition considerations within research, policy and practice.

Disasters are increasing in frequency, duration and severity, often disrupting food systems and contributing to food insecurity, particularly affecting historically underserved communities.

Although nutrition emergencies often receive insufficient attention, initiatives should seek to improve food and nutrition security during disaster response and recovery. During each phase of the disaster, those involved in these efforts can play a central role in emphasizing the importance of nutrition education and other interventions to encourage healthy eating habits.

Dr. Fleischhacker said, “Although nutrition emergencies tend to be understudied, there are emerging efforts working to promote food and nutrition security during disaster response and recovery. Before, during, and after disaster, those who participate in this work, among other allies, help promote the importance of nutrition education and other strategies to promote healthy eating behaviors through research, policy and practice. “