According to a survey by the state government, the damage caused by the floods in the Eifel and Rhineland is immense in North Rhine-Westphalia alone. Armin Laschet calls for a “national show of strength”.
Düsseldorf – North Rhine-Westphalia’s state government assumes, according to a comprehensive survey with almost all affected municipalities in the state, flood damage in the double-digit billions. This became known from government circles on Thursday after a special session of the state cabinet.
The cabinet agreed on comprehensive and quick help to cushion the damage caused by the flood. According to the information, the state is responsible for ensuring that measures that have already been started can be reimbursed in order to enable rapid reconstruction. To this end, discussions with the federal government should be concluded quickly. The range of day-care centers and schools in the region affected by the flood should be guaranteed. Government circles reported that there was consensus on this in the cabinet.
Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) said the country’s emergency aid would provide quick initial support. Many people in the region wanted to tackle it directly and start with the reconstruction. “It therefore needs a national effort with a swift and clear signal from the federal government and the states,” said the Union Chancellor candidate and CDU federal chairman. Not all damage could be repaired with money. The many deaths, injuries and destroyed livelihoods hurt too much. “But nobody should have to worry at least economically,” says Laschet. Nobody should have to wait to rebuild. dpa
