Schools to Host Earthquake Safety Drills: Preparing Students for Natural Disasters

On Saturday, the 27th National Earthquake and Safety Drill will be conducted across schools in Iran, focusing on enhancing awareness and preparedness for earthquakes among students, teachers, and their families. This initiative aims to empower young individuals to respond effectively during seismic events, promoting the concept of “safe schools, resilient society.”

The drill is organized by the International Research Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) in collaboration with various organizations, including the National Crisis Management Organization, student organizations, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), as reported by ISNA.

This year, the drill will not only train students but also aim to improve the preparedness of residents in neighborhoods surrounding safe schools. The initiative emphasizes the use of these schools as vital hubs for prevention and crisis management. Special attention will be given to ensuring safety and readiness for students with disabilities and special needs, equipping them with the knowledge to take appropriate actions in the event of an earthquake.

Since its inception in the Iranian year 1375 (1996), the IIEES has organized this nationwide event, initially focusing on nursery and elementary schools in Tehran. By the following year, the drill expanded its reach across the entire country. Since the Iranian year 1395 (2016-2017), various ministries, including the Ministries of the Interior and Education, alongside the IRCS, have collaborated with the IIEES to enhance the drill’s execution nationwide.

Iran is located in a seismically active area of the world, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. The Iranian plateau experiences frequent seismic events that often lead to severe humanitarian crises. While approximately 2% of the world’s earthquakes occur in Iran, over 6% of the global earthquake victims in the 20th century were from Iranian earthquakes.

According to the Seismological networks of the Institute of Geophysics of the University of Tehran, there were a total of 6,272 earthquakes recorded in the past calendar year (March 2024 – March 2025). Out of these, 150 earthquakes registered over 4 on the Richter scale, with at least five earthquakes exceeding 4.5 in magnitude each month.

In a groundbreaking effort to enhance emergency preparedness for children with disabilities, UNICEF and its partners have launched a unique program titled “Earthquake Preparedness Education for Children with Disabilities.” This initiative includes the development of three informative books aimed at different stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and policymakers. Each resource provides guidelines on disaster management, focusing on mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies tailored for children with:

• Hearing impairments
• Mobility impairments
• Autism spectrum disorder

The creation of these books involved consultations with children with disabilities and their families, as well as organizations representing persons with disabilities (OPDs), teachers from the Special Education Organization, social workers from the State Welfare Organization, and aid workers from the IRCS. Moreover, four consultative training workshops have been conducted, where educators and support staff learned and provided feedback on effective strategies for assisting children with disabilities during earthquake scenarios.

Looking forward, UNICEF Iran plans to collaborate with its partners to integrate these resources into the annual earthquake and safety drill conducted in schools. Additionally, they aim to develop inclusive guidelines for the drill, ensuring that all children, regardless of their abilities, are adequately prepared for seismic events.

As a significant step towards inclusivity, an earthquake and safety drill is scheduled to take place at a special school for children with mobility disabilities. This initiative seeks to advocate for inclusive practices, strengthen earthquake preparedness among all children, and gather valuable feedback on the developed guidelines.

The journey of this program is far from over. Plans are already in motion to update the guidebooks to include recommendations for children with vision impairments and to broaden the resources available to address all types of disabilities. This initiative marks a substantial advancement in inclusive earthquake preparedness, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for every child in Iran, regardless of their challenges.

In conclusion, the 27th National Earthquake and Safety Drill is not just about training students; it represents a vital movement towards creating a culture of preparedness and resilience among all members of society, especially those who are most vulnerable. With ongoing efforts and collaboration, Iran is taking significant strides in ensuring that all children are equipped to face the challenges posed by earthquakes.