Earthquakes are natural disasters that can strike without warning and leave devastation in their wake. These powerful tremors can be especially frightening to children. Let’s take a look at some essential earthquake safety tips for parents to ensure their children's safety and well-being.  Tips to Keep Children Safe During and After an Earthquake  The following guidelines can provide parents with the essential knowledge to keep their children safe during and after earthquakes.  Create a Family Emergency Plan Creating a Family Emergency Plan is the foundation of disaster readiness. It involves establishing specific meeting locations within and outside home, ensuring everyone, especially children, knows where to gather during an earthquake or other emergencies. This plan enhances safety and preparedness for your entire family. Read more: Turkey Earthquake: Why Did So Many Buildings Collapse? Educate Your Children Educating children about earthquakes is crucial for their safety. Parents should engage them in open conversations, emphasizing the need to remain calm during seismic events. It is recommended to apply language suited to the age of children to make them understand the situation without inducing undue fear. It will empower them to respond confidently in such situations. Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On Practicing 'Drop, Cover, and Hold On' with children is vital to earthquake preparedness. Parents  can teach their kids activities like instinctively dropping to the ground, seeking shelter under sturdy furniture, and holding on during tremors. These simple yet effective techniques can ensure their safety until the earthquake subsides. Identify Safe Zones It would be better to teach children to recognize areas free from hazards. Identifying safe zones within each room is crucial for earthquake safety. Parents may encourage them to stay in these designated safe spots during an earthquake. It will reduce the risk of injury from falling debris or shattered glass.  Read more: 6.2 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Philippines southwest of the capital

Cyclones are powerful and destructive natural phenomena that can significantly damage life, property, and infrastructure. Being adequately prepared and staying aware of the necessary precautions can greatly minimize the destructive impacts of cyclones on lives and properties.  Unfortunately, unpreparedness and ignorance often exacerbate the effects of these disasters, leading to greater devastation. This article will explore essential cautionary measures before, during, and after a cyclone to save human lives, livestock, and properties. Precautions before Cyclone Remember, each cyclone is unique, and the level of preparedness required may vary. Stay vigilant, follow the advice of local authorities, and prioritize safety.  Read more: Cyclone Remal: 500 shelters, 290 medical teams ready in Ctg Taking proactive measures before a cyclone can significantly reduce its impact and protect lives and property. Stay informed: Regularly monitor weather forecasts and warnings from reliable sources to stay updated about the cyclone's progress and potential impact on your area. Develop an emergency plan: Prepare an emergency kit with necessary supplies such as food, water, medication, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit. Discuss and practice evacuation routes and procedures with your family. Secure your property: Trim tree branches, secure loose objects, reinforce doors and windows, and inspect the roof for potential vulnerabilities. In addition, consider installing storm shutters or protective coverings. Prepare communication channels: Keep mobile phones charged, have a battery-operated radio, and store important documents in waterproof bags. Share contact information with family and friends and establish a communication plan in case of separation. Evacuation readiness: Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes and shelters. Plan for the needs of elderly or disabled family members and pets. Follow evacuation orders issued by local authorities promptly. Safety drills: Conduct regular safety drills with your family members to ensure everyone knows what to do during a cyclone. Practice tasks such as shutting off utilities, assembling the emergency kit, and swiftly reaching the designated safe area. Secure important documents: Make digital copies of important documents such as identification cards, passports, insurance policies, and property deeds. Store them securely in the cloud or portable device to facilitate easy access and recovery. Stock up on supplies: Maintain a sufficient supply of non-perishable food items, dry food, bottled water, and necessary medications for several days. In addition, consider the needs of infants, elderly family members, and individuals with special dietary requirements. Stay hydrated and have snacks: Keep an ample supply of drinking water and non-perishable snacks to sustain you during the cyclone and its aftermath.  Read more: 10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries around the World

The World Bank on Friday approved a loan of $500 million to help Bangladesh improve disaster preparedness against inland flooding in 14 flood-prone districts, benefiting over 1.25 million people. The Resilient Infrastructure for Adaptation and Vulnerability Reduction (RIVER) project will help Bangladesh reduce vulnerability to riverine and flash floods by constructing over 500 multipurpose flood shelters, access roads, and climate-resilient community infrastructure, the World Bank said in a release. In normal times, the flood shelters will operate as primary schools and they will be equipped with solar energy systems, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities that cater to the needs of women and vulnerable populations. The project will also help strengthen the capacity of communities and government agencies to prepare and respond to floods and undertake behavioural change interventions. Also read: UN announces $5 million more flash flood relief for Bangladesh Mercy Tembon, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said that the heart-wrenching flood situation in Sylhet region is a stark reminder of the increasing risks of climate change to development -- more frequent, unpredictable and intense natural disasters. “Building on our five-decade long partnership of improving disaster risk management in the coastal region, this project will help Bangladesh improve disaster preparedness in the non-coastal flood-prone areas. It will also support the country’s transition from a disaster response to a disaster risk management approach." Every year, floods and riverbank erosion in By affect about one million people but in some years, the numbers can be substantially higher. The project will help save lives and properties in the highly flood-prone districts in the Teesta-Brahmaputra-Jamuna, the Padma, and the Surma-Meghna river basins -- Nilpamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogura, Pabna, Sirajganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, and Sunamganj, Habiganj. Ignacio Urrutia, World Bank team leader for the project, said that Inadequate evacuation facilities for people and their livestock in the highly flood-prone areas not only leads to the loss of lives and livelihoods, but it also hampers the ability to provide adequate relief. Also read: President Hamid calls for stepping up flood relief distribution “This project will contribute to developing evacuation facilities that provide WASH, apply gender-sensitive design, and provide sufficient space for community members and livestock, while at the same time benefiting the community in regular times.” The project will also develop a database on the availability and condition of flood shelters, which will be critical for disaster preparedness and future investment planning. The project will support the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, a long-term plan to achieve a safe, climate-resilient, and prosperous delta, as well as the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2025.