Similarly to armed conflicts, disasters have severe consequences for animals and for the communities relying on them. This scenario suggests a legal analysis grounded on the recognition of animals as sentient beings. The question is whether the strategic and operational documents of international disaster law have the structural capacity to factor in animal concerns. The chapter pays particular attention to the protection of animals during disasters and their involvement in international relief operations. It also assesses whether inputs from international disaster law might influence initiatives and instruments addressing animals in armed conflicts. The analysis confirms how the alleged animal turn in the social sciences is beginning to play a role in legal issues related to disasters.

Chapter 8 investigates the evacuation of approximately 40,000 Dutch children out of the famine-affected areas. In the 1940s, the Netherlands enjoyed an extensive health- and family care system and had a strong civil society. Many networks were therefore in place to efficiently organise relief. These child evacuations were only one aspect of relief efforts but, similar to the child-feeding initiatives, they highlight the active role of ordinary people and grassroots initiatives in taking emergency measures. Shared ideas on the importance of the continuation of family life, even under extreme circumstances, and protecting the future of Dutch society were key to this communal response to the famine conditions.