Modernizing Population Protection: Red Cross pleads for a Change in Gear
Adequate Funding and Modernization are Urgent for Red Cross to Stay Relevant - Red Cross Urges Increased Funding and Embraces Modernization for Operations
Want a fresh take on the Population Protection landscape? Hear it straight from Barbara Bosch, President of the German Red Cross (DRK)'s Baden-Württemberg state association - Population Protection is still stuck in the Cold War era, it's time for change!
Past disasters like those in the Ahr Valley and last year's Baden-Württemberg, recent pandemics, and geopolitical uncertainties demand a more modern, resilient, and durable Population Protection system.
Red Cross craves a tenfold increase in funds
Hanno Hurth, President of the DRK state association Badisches Rotes Kreuz, calls for substantially boosted financial resources for disaster protection and emergency services. To maintain supplies, special vehicles, and emergency deployment forces, the DRK urges that 0.5 percent of the annual state budget should be allocated to Population Protection - that's around 300 million euros per year, a massive hike from the current funds.
Future collaboration needs a reset
Regular and continuous collaboration between organizations is the key to better disaster protection. With a state competence center for disaster protection, all state security task-involved organizations can be better interconnected.
The Red Cross boasts close to 80,000 employees in Baden-Württemberg, delivering approximately 75 percent of the emergency services and offering the bulk of Population Protection by volunteer helpers. The DRK employs 63,466 volunteers and 17,505 full-time workers.
Population ProtectionGerman Red Cross (DRK)Baden-WürttheimergAhr ValleyRed CrossBaden-WürtthembergStuttgartFloodingCold WarCrisis-proof Society (indirectly relates to Population Protection goals, see [3] for details)
- The science of disaster response and population protection must evolve to address modern challenges such as global pandemics, geopolitical uncertainties, and environmental crises, as advocated by the German Red Cross (DRK) in Baden-Württemberg.
- To achieve health-and-wellness standards in crisis situations and promote a resilient community, the DRK calls for increased financial investment from the state, urging an allocation of 0.5 percent of the annual state budget, amounting to around 300 million euros per year.
- The future of Population Protection relies on strengthened collaborations among organizations and community stakeholders, with the establishment of a state competence center for disaster protection playing a crucial role in fostering interconnections among task-involved state security organizations.
