"Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, research has suggested that many women have been physically and psychologically abused by their partners. The International Journal of Public Health found high rates of violence and abuse both before (71.2 %) and after (75 %) an earthquake occurs. This violence is often perpetuated by boyfriends or husbands. This article provides a a brief synopsis of over 200 women who have been able to come forth to express their abuse. Indeed, about 60–78 % of abused women did not report their ongoing abuser due to the limited access and low access to appropriate resources." |
“Based on information collected from news reports, Kilómetro Cero researchers were able to determine that at least 75 murders of women involved an intimate partner. The police department data, however, “domestic violence” was only listed as a motive in 59 cases...Women without a high school education were five times more likely to be murdered. Fifty-eight percent of the women were killed using firearms, and a large proportion were murdered in the four homes. ” |
"After the Earthquake, the delay of adequate help forced non-profit organizations that work to prevent child and domestic abuse in Puerto Ricoto switch their initiatives towards providing more sanitary supplies, water, medicine, first aid necessities, and psychological treatment to victims. One of the most affected cities by the Earthquake, Guánica has about 350 victims who are living with strict minimums under tents provided by the government. Despite the financial assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to about 7,573 victims, the grant recipients can barely afford their expenses of rebuilding." |
“Domestic Violence surged by more than 50 percent in disaster-struck areas after an earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, last week, killing more than 100 people and badly damaging much of the city, according to police... Many in the city were already facing emotional difficulties after an earthquake in September -- and its more than 5,000 aftershocks -- caused massive damage. The city saw an increase in suicides and stress-related problems after the first quake.” |
"Incidents of sexual violence against women, and especially intimate partner violence, tripled in the year after Hurricane Katrina struck. Similarly, a substantial increase in gender inequalities and gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, was registered after the South Asian tsunami of 2004." |
"Closer to home, New Zealand police reported a 53 per cent increase in callouts to domestic violence incidents over the weekend of the Canterbury earthquake on 4 September 2010 and after the 2004 Whakatane flood, there was a tripling of workload for domestic violence agencies and a doubling of police callouts... In countries similar to Australia, relationship violence increases in the wake of disasters. New Zealand police reported a 53 per cent rise in domestic violence after the Canterbury earthquake." |