Crisis readiness among populace questioned by Red Cross warning
The German Red Cross (DRK) is calling for more financial resources to bolster crisis preparedness, particularly in the areas of hospital capacities, as ongoing budget negotiations unfold.
In a recent statement, General Secretary Christian Reuter expressed concerns about insufficient civilian protection in Germany. He believes that the state must accommodate and supply one to two percent of the population in a crisis, which equates to 800,000 to 1.6 million people. Currently, the necessary resources only allow for the help of a few tens of thousands of people.
To address this gap, the Red Cross is building a pool of 2,000 specialists, including nurses, doctors, and technicians, for deployment in scenarios of armed conflicts and other major crises. The Red Cross is also building its own reserve of specialists for emergencies.
Reuter emphasized that the turning point has not yet arrived in civilian protection. He stated that the current healthcare system is ill-equipped to handle a major crisis due to a lack of shelters, supplies, hospital capacities, and medicines. According to him, only half of the 2.5 billion euros needed annually for adequate civilian protection is currently planned for 2025.
The Red Cross's call for more financial resources includes investment in German hospitals due to insufficient preparedness for major crises. The Bundeswehr's scenarios assume 1,000 wounded per day in a crisis, which underscores the need for increased hospital capacities. Christian Reuter suggests keeping 10,000 to 20,000 beds ready for crises and conflicts, even if they are initially empty.
The DRK's initiatives extend beyond financial resources. In collaboration with other humanitarian actors, including the Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA), the DRK is advancing programs aimed at strengthening humanitarian capabilities in Germany. These efforts focus on networking, policy analysis, digitalization, and localization to better equip actors for rising humanitarian and crisis challenges.
In addition, the DRK promotes respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) to protect medical personnel and facilities during conflicts, ensuring these remain safe and equipped during violent crises. The DRK also participates in responding to escalating climate-related emergencies such as heatwaves and wildfires, providing health advice, safety tips, and establishing cooling centers or climate refuges for at-risk populations.
The DRK's involvement in these initiatives underscores its commitment to enhancing civilian protection and preparedness amid increasing complex crises in Germany and Europe. The DRK's efforts contribute to a coordinated approach with governmental and humanitarian partners, aimed at building local capacities in first aid and emergency medical response, strengthening humanitarian capabilities, and advocating for respect for international humanitarian law.
- The German Red Cross (DRK) is advocating for increased funding in science and health-and-wellness sectors, particularly for therapies-and-treatments and policy-and-legislation related to crisis preparedness.
- In a recent statement, Christian Reuter, General Secretary of the DRK, has emphasized the need for a more robust healthcare system in response to a lack of resources, including shelters, supplies, hospital capacities, and medicines during a crisis.
- The DRK's initiatives for enhancing civilian protection and preparedness involve collaboration with various humanitarian actors, including the Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA), and aim to strengthen humanitarian capabilities through networking, policy analysis, digitalization, and localization, addressing rising humanitarian and crisis challenges in Germany and Europe.
