NEW Delhi: The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has called for inclusion of domestic violence risk in the Covid-19 response plan of all the national disaster management authorities to combat rising cases of violence against women and children.“Measures to combat domestic violence need to be given attention and addressed by national disaster management agencies,” said Mami Mizutori , the UN secretary-general’s special representative for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and head of the UNDRR.Mizutori said that women and girls are more affected by disasters generally because of the gender inequality evident in society at large. “They die and are injured in greater numbers particularly in extreme weather events. This unfortunate reality has taken a new twist in the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.The lockdown and restrictions imposed by governments on their movement have further put them in jeopardy, trapped in abusive domestic situations.“I call on all national disaster management agencies to give attention to this urgent issue within their governments so that support to victims of domestic abuse is included in their COVID-19 response plans. This will save lives and prevent serious injury to many,” Mizutori said.She also asked governments for adequate allocation of funds and shelter for “women and girls escaping domestic abuse”. It also means increasing the level of online support services including helplines to police and social services, the UNDRR chief said.“Facilities such as supermarkets and pharmacies that remain open, should be on alert to receive pleas for help from women seeking support without worry that their abusers will be alerted. We need to find safe and creative ways for women to seek support,” Mizutori said.