Plan Indonesia Delivers Hundreds of Emergency Aid Packages to Earthquake Survivors in Flores
17 August 2026
Kupang, 16 August 2026 — Plan Indonesia has moved swiftly to respond to the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on 15 August 2026. In addition to conducting a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA), Plan Indonesia has distributed more than 250 emergency aid packages to five evacuation sites across affected areas in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, and Sikka regencies.
The hundreds of emergency aid packages include family hygiene kits, menstrual hygiene kits for adolescent girls and women, temporary shelter supplies, educational play materials, bottled drinking water, and snacks. This initial assistance is designed to help meet survivors’ basic needs while addressing the specific needs of children and women living in evacuation sites.
“In an emergency, basic needs such as drinking water, hygiene supplies, a safe place to rest, and food are immediate priorities. At the same time, we need to ensure that children continue to have a safe space to play and feel secure, while adolescent girls and women can manage their menstrual hygiene needs properly and with dignity,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.
As part of its initial response, Plan Indonesia has deployed 16 emergency response team members to conduct rapid needs assessments in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, and Sikka. The assessment aims to identify the most urgent needs, with particular attention to children—especially girls and adolescent girls—women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
“Each affected area has different conditions and needs. That is why our teams are working directly with communities to understand their situation, particularly the needs of children and vulnerable groups. The findings from the rapid needs assessment will guide us in determining the most relevant and targeted support for the next phase of our response,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.
Salah satu rumah warga terdampak dari gempa Flores
According to Dini, the impact of disasters on children, particularly girls, must be an important consideration in decision-making throughout the emergency response. Disasters do not only damage homes and infrastructure. Children may also lose their sense of safety, be unable to attend school, lose their daily routines, and experience psychological distress. Girls may face additional risks, including difficulties accessing sanitation and menstrual hygiene supplies, loss of safe spaces, and increased exposure to violence. Therefore, children’s needs, voices, and rights must be considered from the earliest stages of the response through the recovery process.
According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of 1:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on 16 August 2026, the earthquake, which was centered in the Flores Sea, had been followed by 341 aftershocks. BNPB reported 51 fatalities and 101 people injured. More than 5,900 people remained in evacuation sites, particularly in Sikka, Manggarai, and Nagekeo regencies. Damage was also reported to at least 914 houses, 93 educational facilities, and 36 health facilities, all of which sustained severe damage.
Plan Indonesia is also inviting the public to support recovery efforts for children and families affected by the earthquake through the donation page: http://bit.ly/respongempa-ntt
Public support will help address urgent needs on the ground while ensuring that the specific needs of children, especially girls, remain an integral part of the humanitarian response.
