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Air raid shelter in Hamburg
Photo: Angerer / Hoch Zwei / IMAGO
The Association of Cities and Municipalities is calling for a federal package worth billions to protect the population from a possible war.
“Security can no longer be taken for granted,” the new managing director André Berghegger told the newspapers of the Funke media group, according to a preliminary report.
»Now it's not just a matter of making the Bundeswehr capable of defending itself.
In general, it's about protecting the population from war-related dangers.«
Specifically, Berghegger called for more bunkers in Germany.
Of the 2,000 public shelters from the Cold War, only 600 remain that can accommodate around 500,000 people.
"It is urgently necessary to put disused bunkers back into operation," he said.
In addition, new, modern shelters would have to be built and additional sirens installed.
“There can no longer be a municipality without sirens.”
Pupils should be made aware of the new danger situation “on project days or in working groups” – and learn how to behave in the event of a defense.
»We were doing very well for a long time.
“That made us a little careless,” says Berghegger.
Strengthening resilience is a joint task for the federal, state and local governments.
“We need at least one billion euros in each of the next ten years to protect the civilian population.” But this is only an impetus and the task is not yet completed.
The funds should come from the regular federal budget.
vet/Reuters