The German government is set to approve a €10 billion ($11.6 billion) package to bolster civil defense and emergency management, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced. The decision comes eight months after he first proposed the measures, with a cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The package includes the procurement of 1,000 specialized vehicles and modernization of buildings for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). About one-third of the funds will go to THW, which currently has a €500 million budget, 2,200 staff, and 88,000 volunteers. Other organizations like the Red Cross may also receive support, though details remain unclear.

A government spokesperson cited growing hybrid threats, particularly from Russia, as a key driver. The existing Medical Task Force (MTF) will be expanded, and over 50 locations across Germany will be prepared for mass casualty events.

Germany's lack of crisis preparedness was exposed during the 2021 Ahr Valley floods, which killed 135 people. Early warning systems failed, and sirens were lacking. Currently, the country has about 600 bunkers, but they can only accommodate 478,000 people—just 0.56% of the population.

Dobrindt has also proposed introducing crisis management lessons in schools, a move supported by the German Teachers' Association. The opposition Left Party criticized the plans, arguing they focus too much on security and defense scenarios rather than modern civil protection.

The package aims to integrate civil defense more closely with military defense, with a new staff unit to be created. However, critics say the investment backlog is massive, and the bunker capacity is woefully inadequate for Germany's 84 million population.

Source: www.dw.com