Australia’s goodwill continues to shines through with more than $170,000 donated to our appeal to help fund Plan’s international relief and recovery efforts in northern Pakistan, which began within 24 hours of the earthquake devastating communities on 8 October 2005.

In addition, Plan received a $200,000 grant from the Australian Government's international development agency, AusAID for the provision of tents and blankets.

The quake, which the United Nations estimates has a death toll of more than 50,000 people, was centred at the heart of Plan program areas.

“Immediately after the disaster, medical treatment, food, blankets and tents were the urgent priorities for the thousands of people, especially children who were left injured, hungry and sleeping in freezing temperatures after their homes were completely destroyed,” says Ian Wishart, Plan national executive director.

“Within hours of the disaster, Plan had dispatched emergency medical supplies containing painkillers, syringes, drips and bandages,” Ian says.