Domestic and family violence exacerbated by flood disaster in south-east Queensland communities

Though the devastating flood disaster in south-east Queensland has moved into the recovery phase, experts say a new crisis is emerging.

Police say they responded to 120,000 domestic violence incidents in the past financial year.

Domestic and family violence support groups say natural disasters can unmask or exacerbate domestic and family abuse, as a result of factors like psychological distress, trauma, financial hardship, family disruption and housing displacement.

CEO of Logan-based Centre for Women & Co, Stacey Ross, said there has been an increase in incidents of violence, and calls for help across the region since the flood crisis.

“It’s absolutely what we see … in the aftermath of natural disasters, violence and abuse can increase due to the tensions around financial job losses, that trauma increasing and people not knowing how to deal with the trauma,” Ms Ross said…READ ON

South Africa: Death toll edges to nearly 400 after devastating floods

Around 41,000 have been affected in record flooding ranking among one of the worst natural disasters in South African history.

Homes in the area have collapsed on their owners, hillsides have washed away and roads and bridges have disappeared in the torrents. Thousands of homeless survivors have been forced to share shelters across the province…READ ON