Source: Plan International Indonesia
Tuesday, 24 August 2026
More than a week after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), children are still facing serious health, protection and psychosocial risks as families remain displaced and aftershocks continue.
According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported 161,084 people remain displaced and 91 deaths have been confirmed. Data from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection reveals that 48 of those who perished were women and children, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the disaster on vulnerable groups.
Conditions in evacuation sites remain challenging, with shortages of blankets, clean water, sanitation, and other essential facilities. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) reported that two children died after falling ill, with their conditions reportedly worsened by circumstances in evacuation sites. Crowded and poorly equipped sites can also increase children’s exposure to respiratory infections, diarrhea, and skin infections.
“Children do not stop being at risk when the ground stops shaking. When they are forced to stay in cold, overcrowded evacuation sites without adequate clean water and basic protection, their health, safety and rights remain at risk. Essential assistance, from blankets and shelter materials to clean water and safe sanitation, must be delivered quickly and comprehensively,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.
Dini also stressed that conditions in evacuation sites must be treated as a child protection priority. Poor lighting and unsafe access to toilets can increase risks of harassment and gender-based violence, particularly for girls and women. Evacuation sites must therefore provide adequate privacy, lighting, sanitation and safe access for children and other vulnerable groups.
The psychological impact is also growing. Disrupted routines, loss of homes and familiar surroundings, combined with continuing aftershocks, are making it harder for children to regain a sense of safety. As of 23 August, 5,688 aftershocks had been recorded.
Plan International Indonesia has conducted rapid needs assessments and distributed hundreds of emergency relief packages to several evacuation sites in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, and Ngada.
Teams have also provided psychosocial support to hundreds of children in evacuation sites. The activities are designed to help children cope with the stress and fear caused by the earthquake, while providing a safe space for them to play, interact with their peers, and begin rebuilding their sense of safety.
Plan International in Indonesia continues to coordinate closely with the Education Cluster, led by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and key stakeholders to ensure that the educational needs of affected children are incorporated into the humanitarian response and recovery efforts. By supporting the restoration of learning and safe spaces for children, we aim to minimise disruption to education and support children's wellbeing following the disaster.
Notes
The Data from National Secretary of Safe School covered seven districts in the mapping are Nagekeo, Ende, Ngada, Manggarai, West Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Sikka. Access to education also remains challenging in several areas. Two primary schools in Ende and one early childhood education service in East Manggarai remain inaccessible following the earthquake.
About Plan Indonesia
Since 1969, Plan International has operated in Indonesia; in 2017, it changed its name to the Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia). We seek to advance girls’ equality and realize children’s rights. We also work with young people to enable meaningful engagement in life decisions.
Plan Indonesia, a subsidiary of Plan International Inc., runs a major child sponsorship program. In East Nusa Tenggara, Plan Indonesia has fostered 32,000 boys and girls with five pledges to uphold their fundamental rights: the right to birth certificates, essential vaccinations, clean water, sanitation, and cleanliness, as well as education. Plan Indonesia operates in eight provinces through programs with the main goal to build a Healthy, Educated, Empowered, Safe and Resilient Generation.
These initiatives seek to strengthen the ability of social movements to engage and focus on 3 million girls to have equal representation, equal power, and equal freedom. For further details: planindonesia.org