“Thank you for this, thank you for this effort” – Scholz visits flood areas
Scholz and Weil visit flood areas in Lower Saxony
Chancellor Scholz and Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Weil meet with citizens affected by the floods in Verden an der Aller. The Chancellor also used the visit to thank the auxiliary staff from the fire department and the technical relief organization who were present.
The Chancellor traveled to the flood area in northern Lower Saxony. It is “important that we stick together,” said Scholz. He assured the affected states and municipalities “that the federal government is available with its options”. He did not make any specific promises about financial aid.
ba visit to the Lower Saxony flood areas Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) thanked the emergency responders and promised help from the federal government. In view of the natural disaster, it is “important that we stick together – and this is happening everywhere,” said Scholz in the city of Verden an der Aller. “For me, this is something where I want to say: thank you for this, thank you for this effort.”
The Chancellor did not bring any concrete promises from the federal government, such as financial aid to the affected areas, with him during his visit. However, he assured that “the federal government and its possibilities are available to the states, the districts, the mayors and everyone who works locally”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a sightseeing flight in an Air Force helicopter to get an impression of the flood situation in northern Lower Saxony
Source: dpa/Philipp Schulze
Scholz with emergency services from the German Life Saving Society (DLRG)
Source: dpa/Philipp Schulze
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stefan Weil (SPD), who accompanied the Chancellor on the visit, did not yet want to formulate any demands for support from the federal government. “Right now we are fighting an acute crisis,” he said. “After that we will certainly deal with the other questions: What damage was caused? What options are there for help?”
Daniela Behrens, Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, and Prime Minister Stephan Weil (center) accompany Scholz
Source: dpa/Philipp Schulze
In recent decades, heads of government have repeatedly traveled to flood-affected areas. In 2021, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) encouraged the people in the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.
After a helicopter flight over the flood areas, Scholz landed in the particularly affected town of Verden an der Aller in the morning, where he spoke to emergency responders about the current situation, the protective measures taken and expected further developments.
He then took a look from a vantage point across the swollen river to the flooded old town of Verden on the other bank. He also exchanged ideas with people affected by the floods and personally thanked the emergency services from the fire brigade and the Technical Relief Agency (THW) as well as other volunteers.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also wants to visit the flood area in Lower Saxony on New Year’s Day. According to information from the German Press Agency, Faeser and Behrens will meet THW and federal police forces in the Oldenburg area on Monday afternoon.
Source: AFP/HORNUNG
The federal CDU immediately called for rapid federal aid. “The visit must not have been a tourist visit: Chancellor Scholz and Prime Minister Weil must follow their words with actions,” said the spokesman for the Union parliamentary group for rural areas, Henning Otte (CDU), to the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”.
The member of the Bundestag pointed out that many people do not have elementary insurance. “Those affected must not be left with the damage,” said Otte. “Honest help must follow.”