DThe German Association of Cities and Municipalities is calling for billions in federal investments to expand the protection of the population from “war-related dangers”. “The threat situation has changed, as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine shows,” said Managing Director André Berghegger to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Saturday). “Security can no longer be taken for granted.”
“We need at least one billion euros in each of the next ten years to protect the civilian population,” demanded Berghegger. He criticized it as a “fatal signal” that the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief was being cut by 40 million euros in the current budget. “We need to increase this.”
According to the municipal umbrella association, there needs to be more bunkers, among other things. Of the 2,000 public shelters from the Cold War, only 600 remain that can accommodate around 500,000 people, said Berghegger. “It is urgently necessary to put disused bunkers back into operation.”
In addition, new, modern shelters would have to be built. In metropolitan areas you can also use underground car parks and subway shafts. “We are currently seeing this in Kiev, where people are seeking refuge from Russian missiles. We also have to plan for such a scenario in Germany.” The association of municipalities is also pushing for additional sirens to be installed.