The story began when a fierce and destructive storm took everything from Mr. Morris – his life, his possessions, and his home. While he was left devastated and unsure of what to do, he saw a woman with a few books in the sky. Mr. Morris’ entire life had been destroyed and he had no power to fly, but the kind woman encouraged him to fly with a book and change his life. The story of “Morris and the Flying Books” by William Joyce, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2011, was inspired by the real-life story of a promoter named Bill Morris who went to shelters after Hurricane Katrina and read books to children, proving the healing power of books and stories and the impact of promotional activities after natural disasters. Morris’ experience was later repeated by many promoters around the world.

After every natural disaster, various groups of people, such as promoters, artists, volunteers, and rescuers, come to the scene to fulfill their

The role of education in reducing the effects of natural disasters.

Education and awareness are the key to prevention and reduction of damages caused by natural disasters. That is why in many countries around the world, children are taught necessary skills to deal with such events in schools, so they are prepared in case of an emergency. This issue is even more important in disaster-prone countries where the possibility of floods and earthquakes exists. However, in Iran, the teaching of disaster preparedness skills is not given enough attention in the school curriculum and is limited to a few subjects in different levels of education. Group exercises and activities, which are sometimes carried out in some schools, have not been effective in reducing the destructive effects of natural disasters. In specialized programs for children and adolescents broadcasted on Iranian radio and television, the focus on teaching children how to reduce the impact of natural disasters is very limited compared to the ideological and religious programs. This is while children, in times of crisis, cannot analyze and understand the situation like adults based on their previous experiences and knowledge. They heavily rely

The connection between natural disasters and deprivation from education.

Children covered in dust; from Bam to Sar-e Pol-e Zahab

Children who, before the disaster, had relative comfort and peace in their homes and shelters, are faced with the bitter image of destruction after natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In such situations, if their understanding and perception of the surrounding environment is not met with sympathy and non-discriminatory and insulting treatment, they will lose their self-esteem and self-confidence, and may even experience psychological distress.

Effective crisis management means that temporary housing and relief measures are implemented in the shortest possible time after the disaster, and that the affected individuals are assured that they will not have problems with access to water, food, hygiene supplies, and basic necessities. However, ineffective management lacks the ability to distribute these resources equally, resulting in weak relief efforts and causing the affected individuals to feel endangered in their struggle for survival.

In December 2017, one month after the earthquake in Sarpol-e Zahab, we witnessed shocking images during our visit to the affected areas. The self-esteem of the people, especially

The death of children after natural disasters.

Diseases and child mortality due to unstable conditions after natural disasters are one of the common issues in Iran. Although Iranian officials always deny and reject it, it tragically affects children. Factors such as infectious diseases, electrocution, hypothermia, and drowning are among the causes of child mortality after natural disasters, due to delays in organizing affected areas and inadequate distribution of facilities.

In the winter of 2017, Iranian media reported the deaths of children in the city of Sarpol-e Zahab due to cold and infectious diseases. Two-year-old Sarina Zahabi and two-month-old Karen Elyasi were among the children who lost their lives due to hypothermia in the winter of 2017. Iranian officials denied that the cause of death was due to the cold, but Sarina’s father told one of the media outlets that homelessness, lack of proper shelter, cold, and lack of medical facilities were the main reasons for his daughter’s death.

The deteriorating process