Violence and theft have increased since the earthquake hit Port Vila on 17 December, police say. Photo: AFP
Violence against women had increased in Vanuatu after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake devastated the country's capital, Port Vila, last month, according to police.
The country's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) recently expressed concern about gender-based violence in the aftermath of the 17 December tragedy, which killed 14 people and injured 265.
Vanuatu police inspector Kami Toa said its family protection unit had responded to nearly 50 assault cases, mostly against women, and about 10 cases of other gender-based violence since the earthquake.
"We've experienced an increase in gender-based violence in our records at the moment. Attempted rape, indecent assault especially on young women, also cases of a person punching another one."
Inspector Toa estimated that reported cases of violence in the country had increased by at least two percent.
He said there had also been a high amount of theft in the country.
Many people in Port Vila had lost their homes and their jobs and could not afford essential items.
"People are going around stealing other people's property.
"After the damage caused by the earthquake in the central district, the main town, a lot of people are unemployed because the businesses are closed."
NDMO earlier reported 1473 people had been displaced from their homes and 80,000 people had been affected.
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