After the devastating flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia, the clean-up work in the affected areas is in full swing. But the emergency services are not welcomed everywhere.
As the Vice President of the Technical Relief Organization (THW) Sabine Lackner told RTL, her people on site are repeatedly attacked. “If they are on the road with emergency vehicles, they are thrown with garbage,” she said on the TV show “Frühstart” on Saturday. “It goes so far that our helpers are insulted.”
Frustrated victims and lateral thinkers
In addition, the helpers are sometimes harassed and filmed by people who do not belong to the press.
Lamented Lackner, there were frustrated flood victims behind the attacks, but above all people from the lateral thinker and prepper scene who pretended to be affected and consciously created a mood. Preppers are people who equip themselves with all sorts of supplies and equipment for any disaster.
30,000 people without water and electricity
For their own protection, THW emergency services had partially removed their name badges, Lackner said. “That is very, very unfortunate.” However, no mission has yet been canceled due to the incidents. Psychologically, however, the situation is very stressful for the many volunteers.
Lackner assumes that around 30,000 people in the flood areas are currently without drinking water or electricity – in some cases without both. The THW is preparing for a longer mission. “We expect to be there for a few more weeks.” (zis / AFP)
Numerous dead and missing: The floods raged in Germany so destructively(03:20)
Published: July 24th, 2021, 2 p.m.
Last updated: 07/24/2021, 2:26 pm