Disasters bring a rise in gender-based violence – this study explains why

File photo of New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The disasters led to an increase in violence against women, particularly domestic violence - AFP

From heatwaves and storms to floods, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change can be harmful to human health. But, according to a new study, these events are also a source of increased violence against girls, women and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.

How can hurricanes or forest fires contribute to an increase in sexist and homophobic violence? According to researchers from the University of Cambridge, who conducted a study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, the driving factors are linked to economic shock, social instability and other factors that contribute to stress in populations.