War and armed conflict devastate animal populations alongside human communities. The welfare of animals in conflict zones is frequently overlooked in humanitarian response.
The welfare of animals in conflict zones is a neglected dimension of humanitarian response. When communities flee, domestic animals are often abandoned — not from callousness but from necessity. Farm animals cannot evacuate themselves and face starvation in abandoned facilities. Zoo animals face abandonment or, in some cases, deliberate killing to prevent dangerous escapes. Wildlife is disrupted by military activity, displacement of communities into buffer zones, and collapse of conservation infrastructure. Integrating animal welfare into disaster and conflict response planning — including evacuation protocols for pets and farm animals — reduces suffering substantially.