Bangladesh is no stranger to natural disasters, and the scale of some such events leave lasting damage in impacted areas. With that in mind, the upcoming Cyclone Mocha is certainly something to be weary of.
The cyclonic storm, which is expected to hit Cox's Bazar coast by Sunday, is cause for panic for the people residing in Bagerhat's coastal areas. It is predicted that around 11km of embankment are vulnerable to the storm, and numerous villages are in danger of being flooded across the region.
However, with the early warning signals that we were able to receive, it is encouraging to see that the government has taken proactive measures to study the brewing storm and put safety measures in place to protect those directly in harm's way.
About 446 shelters have reportedly been built for residents to seek shelter in, and local farmers are in the process of harvesting their crops in order to avoid a complete loss. Additionally, as shrimp enclosures stand the risk of being washed away by the high tides, experts have advised farmers to build higher netting around them.
These are extremely positive measures, as the threat of the cyclone is being taken into consideration to focus on its most likely impacts, allowing for effective preventative measures to be taken.
However, we must remember that with climate change, weather patterns remain extremely volatile globally, and for a cyclone-prone country like Bangladesh, it is crucial that we devise long-term cautionary measures against these natural disasters.
As long as we face Cyclone Mocha -- and other cyclones in the future -- with the knowledge and preparedness that we are currently displaying, a lot of the expected devastation can be avoided.