Merkel visits the Ahr valley: “We will not forget you”


Status: 03.09.2021 4:09 p.m.

The extent of the destruction also impressed the Chancellor on her second visit to the flood-damaged Ahr Valley: it will take years to repair the damage, said Merkel. She again assured the victims of help.

Around one and a half months after the flood disaster in the Ahr valley, Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the area a second time and found out about clean-up work on site. Much has already been done and cleared up, but it will take years “to repair this incredible damage,” said Merkel. The people in the area can count on further help.

“We will not forget you, that will also be taken over by the next federal government”, the Chancellor assured the people affected by the disaster. “This visit is of course also a sign of the firm will that we in the federal government work together with the affected states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and want to do what we can do at all.”

Chancellor Merkel travels to the Ahr Valley again and promises further support

Peter Sonnenberg, SWR, daily news 5:00 p.m., September 3, 2021

“Consolation and encouragement”

Merkel was accompanied by the Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and other state politicians. Together they went on a tour of the Altenahr community. “For me it was very impressive what we saw there,” said Merkel. The extensive destruction of the houses made it clear with what force the Ahr had worked.

The head of the country said Merkel’s visit meant consolation and encouragement for the local people. It is a signal that the population will not be forgotten. Dreyer announced another “future conference” for this month, which will deal with details of the reconstruction.

First visit on July 18th

It was Merkel’s second trip to the disaster area. During her first visit to the Ahr Valley on July 18, a few days after the flood disaster there on the night of July 15, with 133 fatalities, Merkel promised extensive help and spoke to residents of destroyed houses and emergency services. At that time she had announced another visit to the Ahr valley.

In addition to Rhineland-Palatinate, areas in North Rhine-Westphalia in particular were severely devastated by extreme heavy rainfall. A total of around 180 people died in both federal states.



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