Use in the flood areas: THW helpers insulted and attacked

Around 4,000 volunteers from the THW have been working tirelessly in the flood regions for days. Instead of thanking them, they sometimes get insults for it – even garbage is thrown. So-called lateral thinkers and preppers evidently create a good mood.

Volunteers from the Technical Relief Organization (THW) are sometimes exposed to insults and attacks during their missions in the German flood areas. “It goes so far that our helpers are insulted. When they are out with emergency vehicles, they are thrown with rubbish,” says the Vice President of the THW, Sabine Lackner, in the RTL / ntv program “Frühstart”. Behind the attacks were mainly so-called lateral thinkers or people from the prepper scene, who pretended to be victims of the flood disaster and consciously created a mood, as well as some frustrated flood victims.

At some locations, THW employees were filmed by strangers who did not identify themselves as the press, according to Lackner. For protection, the THW arranged that the colleagues were allowed to remove their name tags from their clothing.

No operations have yet been canceled because of the incidents, but the situation is psychologically stressful for the volunteers. There are specially trained teams for follow-up care. “I am infinitely grateful to our emergency services that they are going on quite boldly,” said Lackner.

Authorities have already responded

“Lateral thinkers”, citizens of the Reich and right-wing extremists try again and again in the regions affected by the flood disaster to use the suffering of the people for their cause. In some cases, the authorities have already reacted. The Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care had closed a family center in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, apparently operated by supporters of the “lateral thinking” movement.

“To avoid a risk to the well-being of the child in the room” is the “offer by the initiative ‘Parents stand on e.V.’ to be stopped with immediate effect “, confirmed State Office President Detlef Placzek. The association speaks out against the corona measures and warns against vaccinations.

The police in the Ahr region said in the middle of the week that they had an eye on the activities. “We know about the presence from the social media and are of course also present on site,” said a police spokesman. On Tuesday, the Koblenz police announced on Twitter that they knew that right-wing extremists were currently posing as “carers on site”. It is also known that a police-like car with the inscription “Peace Vehicle” drives through Ahrweiler.

Dubious donation appeals

Numerous calls for donations from the “lateral thinker” scene are circulating on social media. The Federal Ministry of the Interior warned: “It is advised to use a wide range of information to find out about possibilities for effective aid and to only take part in fundraising campaigns that are organized by official aid organizations.”

The appeals for donations are often combined with claims that the Bundeswehr and THW are not sufficiently on site in the crisis regions or that the aid is poorly coordinated. These were aimed at damaging trust in government measures and structures, the ministry said.

Around 30,000 people without water or electricity

Around 4,000 THW workers are currently deployed in the flood areas. Among other things, they take care of drinking water treatment and an emergency power supply. Around 30,000 people currently have no drinking water, no electricity or have to do without both, explained THW Vice Lackner. The helpers prepared for a longer mission. “We are currently assuming that we will be there for a few more weeks.”

A team of experts is currently being put together to advise the local staff, for example on bridge construction. During the day, the construction of a temporary bridge in Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate is to begin by the THW.