In short
Earthquakes give no warning. Survivors need emergency shelter, clean water, food and hygiene kits in the first 72 hours. Donate by card from the UK. World Aid Network funds earthquake relief through local partners in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. Disaster gifts do not rebuild homes or fund medical clinics.
How do you help after an earthquake?
- 1
Donate to an earthquake relief fund
Give to an appeal that funds an immediate response. A cash donation reaches the ground fastest and lets responders buy exactly what survivors need in the critical first hours.
- 2
Fund emergency shelter and warmth
With homes destroyed, survivors need tents, tarpaulins, blankets and warm clothing — especially if the earthquake strikes in winter or at altitude.
- 3
Fund clean water, food and hygiene kits
Help provide safe drinking water, emergency food and hygiene kits so survivors can stay well when pipes are broken and wells are spoiled.
- 4
Set up a monthly gift for rapid response
Because earthquakes strike without warning, a standing relief fund is what makes a fast response possible. A regular gift keeps that fund ready before disaster hits.
- 5
Share the appeal
Spreading a trusted appeal quickly helps mobilise more support during the narrow window when it matters most.
Unlike floods or storms, earthquakes offer no warning at all. The shaking lasts seconds, but the destruction is immediate: homes collapse, water pipes break, and families are left in the open — often in freezing or extreme conditions, afraid to go back inside.
In those first hours and days, speed saves lives. The most effective way to help from overseas is a financial donation to a fund that can act immediately through responders already in the region. Please donate. This guide explains why the first 72 hours matter and how your gift becomes food, water and shelter.
Why the first 72 hours matter?
The period immediately after an earthquake is when lives are most at risk. Survivors may be exposed to the elements with no shelter or clean water. Cold and dehydration become deadly quickly. Please donate so partners can start within 48 to 72 hours of a declared shock.
This is why a rapid response depends on funds and partners being ready in advance. Relief that arrives on day one — a tarpaulin, drinking water, a food parcel, a hygiene kit — prevents the second wave of harm that comes from exposure and dirty water.
What World Aid Network funds after an earthquake?
World Aid Network's earthquake relief concentrates on the immediate survival needs of affected families. Disaster gifts do not pay for search-and-rescue, reconstruction or hospital bills:
- Emergency shelter — tents, tarpaulins and basic household items
- Warmth — blankets and warm clothing, vital in winter and at altitude
- Clean drinking water, hygiene kits and sanitation supplies
- Emergency food parcels
How can I help after the Flores earthquake?
On 15 August 2026 a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. A tsunami warning followed. Please donate to the Indonesia Emergency Appeal so local partners can turn your gift into food, clean water and shelter for families on the affected islands.
The Indonesia Earthquake Appeal and the Indonesia Tsunami Appeal are the same page. If you want a standing three-country fund instead, use the Emergency Floods and Earthquake Appeal. Either way, please give by card. Do not send parcels from Britain unless a partner has asked in writing.
How rapid response works?
World Aid Network does not deploy its own overseas teams. All relief is delivered through trusted local partner organisations who are already present in the affected region and can mobilise within hours, buying supplies locally and reaching communities that outside responders cannot.
Donations given for emergency relief are restricted to that purpose. World Aid Network is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by named trustees, with charity registration in progress.
What are the key takeaways?
- Earthquakes strike without warning, so a ready relief fund is what makes a fast response possible.
- The first 72 hours are the most critical window for saving lives.
- Survivors' first needs are emergency shelter, warmth, clean water, food and hygiene kits.
- A financial donation reaches the ground fastest and lets responders buy what's needed locally.
- World Aid Network funds earthquake relief through trusted local partners already in the region.
Your gift becomes help on the ground
World Aid Network funds emergency relief through trusted local partners in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — so your donation reaches families fast and goes further by buying what's needed locally.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help after an earthquake?
The fastest way to help from abroad is to donate to an earthquake relief fund that can respond through partners already on the ground. Your gift helps provide emergency shelter, warmth, clean water, food and hygiene kits in the critical first hours. Giving monthly keeps a rapid-response fund ready before the next earthquake strikes.
What do earthquake survivors need first?
In the immediate aftermath, survivors need emergency shelter (tents, tarpaulins), warmth (blankets and warm clothing, especially in winter or at altitude), clean drinking water, hygiene kits and food. Speed matters more than almost anything — needs are most acute in the first 72 hours. World Aid Network disaster gifts do not fund medical clinics.
Why is donating money better than sending supplies after an earthquake?
A financial donation reaches survivors far faster than physical goods, which face shipping delays, customs and high transport costs. Cash lets responders already in the region buy exactly what is needed, locally and immediately — which is decisive when lives depend on the first few days.
How does World Aid Network respond to earthquakes so quickly?
World Aid Network funds relief through trusted local partner organisations already present in the affected regions, rather than deploying its own teams from abroad. Because these partners can mobilise within hours and buy supplies locally, a standing relief fund can be turned into help on the ground very fast.
Where does World Aid Network respond to earthquakes?
World Aid Network's work is focused on Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. For the 15 August 2026 Flores earthquake and other Indonesia shocks, donate via the Indonesia Earthquake Appeal at /appeal/indonesia-emergency. WAN funds earthquake relief through local partners when disasters occur.