THE Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) received a more than 100% increase in crisis calls in the first half of April, during the second phase of the movement control order (MCO) period, compared to the number of calls and enquiries received in February.

This dwarfed the 44% increase in cries for help to its hotline and WhatsApp during February and March compared to normal, it said in a statement today.

“In the first half of April, the WAO received 264 calls and WhatsApp enquiries, which is a 111% increase compared to 125 calls and WhatsApp enquiries over a 14-day period in February,” said the organisation which takes calls on domestic violence and child abuse.

The MCO began as a two-week partial lockdown from March 18 to 31, and was extended for a second phase from April 1 to 14.

It has been extended again until April 28 to break the chain of Covid-19 infections, which have claimed 84 lives in Malaysia and infected 5,182 people to date.

The WAO also announced today a new joint national call line to provide Covid-19 psychosocial support, in collaboration with Mercy Malaysia and the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).

The joint hotline number is 03-2935-9935.

It was first set up by Mercy Malaysia and the CPRC, and is now linked to the WAO 24-hour domestic violence hotline, which can also be reached separately at 03-7956-3488.

The joint hotline gives callers a third option, into mental health and psychosocial support, to speak to a WAO crisis support officer about child abuse or domestic violence complaints.

“This joint hotline between the ministry and civil society groups is an important step. It enshrines the importance of collaboration between the government and the third sector in times of national need.

“This Covid-19 psychosocial support hotline will enable us to reach more survivors of abuse, who are at greater risk during the MCO.

“Recent statistics indicate that as the MCO goes on, domestic violence in the household has only intensified.”

The WAO also has a 24-hour WhatsApp channel for complaints and enquiries on 018-988-8058. – April 17, 2020.