Domestic abuse victims left struggling as world events drive up costs and block escape routes

GLOBAL conflicts, Donald Trump’s decisions and Stormont’s budget crisis are piling pressure on domestic abuse victims in Fermanagh and Omagh, with 167 women waiting for emergency accommodation.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, decisions taken by US President Donald Trump and the resulting turmoil in global energy markets may seem a world away from the homes of Fermanagh and Omagh, but their consequences are being felt in the most painful of ways by women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

As the cost of home heating oil, food and other household essentials continues to place pressure on family finances, Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh has warned that some women are being left struggling to find the money to escape abusive relationships and build a safe, independent life.

The international crises are adding to an already desperate situation, with the failure to agree a budget at Stormont creating further uncertainty for local support services.

Kerrie Flood, chief executive of Women’s Aid Fermanagh and Omagh, has issued a stark warning about the devastating human consequences of these interconnected pressures, revealing that 167 women are waiting for emergency accommodation across the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.

Her message is a sobering reminder that decisions taken thousands of miles away can have a direct impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our own communities.

While international conflicts are often discussed in terms of military developments, political strategy and global markets, their effects can reach far beyond the battlefield, pushing up energy costs and placing further strain on households already struggling to survive.

For a woman experiencing domestic abuse, that increase in the weekly shopping bill or the cost of heating her home can become another barrier to escaping a dangerous situation.

“One of the impacts people might not see affects those women who are trying to leave abusive relationships,” Ms Flood explained.

“Financially, they just can’t do it because they can’t afford to run a household on one income or afford a mortgage on their own.“Where those pounds would have went further, they obviously don’t anymore.

”The knock-on effects of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, alongside uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump’s decisions and their implications for international stability and energy markets, underline how closely connected local lives are to events across the world.

When global instability drives up costs, the consequences are not confined to governments, businesses or motorists. They can reach mothers trying to feed their children, women attempting to secure somewhere safe to live and families who cannot afford to heat their homes.

For those already living under the strain of domestic abuse, the added financial pressure can make an escape seem almost impossible.

Ms Flood said Women’s Aid is providing substantial practical assistance to families struggling to afford basic necessities.

“We have to give out a lot in oil vouchers and food vouchers. We always work closely with the food banks, but there are difficulties as well.

“Basic things for families - we are not able to speak about domestic abuse right away, because there’s nothing in the cupboard.

“I know of situations where mothers can only afford to heat one room.

“I don’t think the public know of the real impacts. I don’t think we know the half of it.

”With winter approaching, the cost of home heating oil is a particular concern. International tensions and conflict can contribute to volatility in energy markets, leaving households exposed to price rises at precisely the time they need to heat their homes.

In Fermanagh and Omagh, where wages are often modest and employment opportunities limited, the room for families to absorb additional costs is already severely restricted.

“Wages around here are not great, and the opportunities for employment are not great,” Ms Flood said.

“We have so many women who have to reduce their working hours because they can’t afford to work full-time. Their salary is not stretching to cover childcare plus all the household bills.

“They are better off working part-time and topping it up with Universal Credit. It’s genuinely financially crippling.”

For women trying to leave an abusive partner, the financial obstacles do not end with finding somewhere to live. There may also be legal costs associated with securing protective orders and navigating court proceedings.