WARWICK, R.I., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After initially designating US$1 million to provide assistance to the thousands of people on the island of Sumatra affected by two successive earthquakes last week, Plan is expanding its response program to an estimated US$2.8 million, incorporating planning for early recovery activities to follow on-going immediate relief efforts

Plan's director of disasters and humanitarian response, Roger Yates, said: "Our priority right now is to meet the needs of the many children and their families affected by the two earthquakes. Plan is especially concerned for the safety of children who have been displaced from their homes.

Following last week's earthquakes in Indonesia, the National Disaster Management Agency has confirmed the deaths of 608 people, with an additional 434 missing, 738 displaced, and over 2,400 injured. The number of casualties is expected to increase as thousands of people are still feared to be trapped under rubble. To date, over 88,000 homes have been confirmed to have been severely damaged by the quakes.

"Plan staff has learned many lessons from previous disasters such as the Niaz earthquake and the Boxing Day tsunami. We are now putting these valuable lessons into practice by quickly sending initial support while coordinating with other organizations to collect the detailed information needed for a full response," added Yates.

Complementing emergency response efforts by the Government of Indonesia, Plan began distributing shelter kits, non-food items and hygiene kits through local partners in the city. To date, relief items have been distributed to 2,500 people in Pariaman City and villages in Pariaman sub-district. The hygiene kits include blankets, soaps, mosquito nets, plastic mats and buckets.

Following its immediate relief efforts, Plan's 18-month rehabilitation and reconstruction program in the impacted region will address longer-term needs, focusing on education, health, and disaster risk reduction, to help families and communities return to normalcy.

Plan is part of a unique, global alliance of more than 60 countries -- a worldwide community sharing a common agenda for child-centered development and the well-being, rights and interests of the world's children.

SOURCE Plan USA

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