Everyone has been in one way or another affected by Covid-19 over the past two years. While the pandemic hit hard, so did concerning matters pertaining to domestic violence which affected many women and children.

Cases involving domestic violence has been on the rise, with over 900 cases reported in the first four months of 2021. Until then, the ministry of women, family and community development reported a whopping of 7,468 incidents last year.

According to FMT, Amnani Abdul Kadir of the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) said “we expected the numbers to fall as a result of the leniency in SOP enforcement, but this has not been the case”.

Apart from needing to expand their employment in 2020 to keep up with the increase in cases, the non-government organisation’s costs have skyrocketed to cover survivors’ quarantine in hotels, Covid-19 tests, transportation, food, and other expenses.

Taking into consideration, the WAO has initiated a collection drive for domestic survivors at its Petaling Jaya shelter, asking for donations of food and personal hygiene supplies. Any spare products will be sent to those in need outside the shelter, including single mothers.

Mobile phones are mentioned as important items, according to Amnani, because most women flee their attackers empty handed. As a result, owning it will make it easier for them to communicate with any social service authorities for immediate assistance.

The organiser also stated that cases of child abuse, between March 2020 to last year reported in Selangor alone was 1,910, according to the social welfare agency. Thankfully, new childcare centres opened in April, will accommodate young survivors soon and the collected funds will also be used to furnish the place.

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Volunteers are welcome, to fill in with responsibilities including office work, face checking research, procuring products for the shelter, and supporting survivors with job placement.

Those interested can attend a volunteer induction session hosted by Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) on Saturday, June 25 between 10 am to 11.30 am.

These are the essential requirements for preparing food for the women and children on daily basis;

The organisation anticipates that the entire community will join together to assist the survivors.

Contact Ames at 017-6149189 or email at ames@wao.org.my to contribute products or register for WAO’s volunteer induction programme. You can also sign up as a volunteer by filling out the application form.

Women’s Aid Organisation, Maybank account 512334321741 or CIMB account 8002382997, accepts cash donations. (If you spend more than RM50, you will receive a receipt for tax redemption)

Visit WAO’s website, as well as it Facebook and Instagram profiles, for more information.

Source: [1]