Red Cross insists on more equipment for disaster control
Emergency services are working tirelessly in flood areas in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and southern Saxony-Anhalt. Now the President of the DRK is speaking out. She is hoping for more support from politicians - also for future disasters.
In light of the flooding in parts of Germany, the German Red Cross (DRK) is calling for better preparation for such crises. "We need more and better equipment for disasters in Germany," DRK President Gerda Hasselfeldt told the Rheinische Post newspaper. "The deficits are glaring, especially in terms of material equipment."
After the flood disaster in the Ahr valley in the summer of 2021, the awareness of those politically responsible for civil protection has increased. "There's not much left of that now." There is a concept, but its implementation is faltering due to very limited budget funds.
The political consensus had been to "procure ten mobile support modules for use in the event of destroyed infrastructure. So far, there is only one," complained Hasselfeldt. According to her, a module consisting of tents, for example, can accommodate, care for and provide comprehensive support for up to 5,000 people at a time. "We are not talking about crises. But it is foreseeable that we will be affected by disasters more and more often. Possibly at the same time."
Emergency services have been working continuously in the flood areas for days. Lower Saxony, parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and southern Saxony-Anhalt are particularly affected. On New Year's Eve, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited a flood area in Lower Saxony. There he paid tribute to the joint efforts of the helpers. "The weather and nature are challenging us," said the SPD politician in Verden. "That's why it's important that we stick together in the state. This is also being done everywhere by the relevant organizations, the police, the fire department, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, and the German Armed Forces have also provided their support."
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The German Red Cross, led by President Gerda Hasselfeldt, is urging politicians to provide more financial support and equipment for disaster control, citing the need for improved preparation following the flooding in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and southern Saxony-Anhalt. Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellor, recently paid a visit to a flood-affected area in Lower Saxony, recognizing the collective efforts of the emergency services, including the police, fire department, Federal Agency for Technical Relief, and German Armed Forces. These organizations, along with the German Red Cross, are operating continuously in the flood-stricken regions, seeking international aid to tackle the ongoing crisis.
Source: www.ntv.de
