Enhancing Midwifery and lactation support for women in natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Natural disasters, such as storms, floods, etc, exacerbated by climate change, continue to increase in frequency, placing immense stress on healthcare systems, particularly maternal and newborn health care. Pregnant women and their newborns are especially vulnerable in these scenarios, requiring specialised support from skilled providers, particularly in low-income settings [1], [4]. Disease outbreaks may cause additional stress on health systems which may impact their capacity to provide quality care [8]. Disaster preparedness involves evaluating risks and capabilities to effectively respond when disasters strike [11]. Midwives are crucial in delivering timely and effective care to this population in humanitarian crises. As highlighted, there are not enough midwives [4], [5], [15], [25]. In a prior editorial, we highlighted the need for climate-resilient midwifery practices [16]. Here, we emphasise the importance of developing adaptable strategies and protocols to support women during disasters—including supporting infant feeding in emergencies— and we call for policymakers to integrate midwives into disaster preparedness and decision-making [10].