Plan is calling for urgent donations to help fund Plan's relief and recovery efforts in Pakistan, which began within 24 hours of the earthquake devastating communities in Northern India and Afghanistan on 8 October 2005.

"Food, medicine, blankets and tents are 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 Australia national executive director.

Dr Irfan Ahmed, a Plan health advisor, who has just returned from the devastated village of Battal near Mansehra city found 60 per cent of the village completely destroyed and the remaining 40 per cent too damaged to live in.

Dr Ahmed says the village was dealing with the added tragedy of a confirmed death toll of 200 children and teachers at two schools. People were also without any shelter and their main request was for tents and clothing, he says. One local man said: "We can survive without food, but we can't survive the cold. Please bring tents."

The district urgently requires 10,000 blankets, 10,000 tents and basic food items such as cooking oil, tea and sugar, Dr Ahmed says. The quake, which the United Nations estimates has a death toll of more than 40,000 people, was centred at the heart of Plan program areas.

"Within hours of the disaster, Plan had dispatched emergency medical supplies containing painkillers, syringes, drips and bandages," Mr Wishart says.

"In Australia, we hope to raise US$50,000 ($65,000), which will contribute to Plan's international appeal to help buy much needed medicines, blankets and food and help survivors rebuild their lives.

Ian says that after working with the local communities and government for over eight years, Plan was ideally placed to provide not only emergency relief but also long term development assistance.

Plan has released US$ 200,000 (AUS $270,000) for immediate emergency assistance and has launched an international appeal to raise funds to support the relief efforts.