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Federal Environment Minister Schulze (archive photo): "The federal states and municipalities know best what needs to be done"
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
In view of the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) has called for short-term, but also long-term help, especially for the municipalities.
"States and municipalities know best what needs to be done," said Schulze on the Berlin-Brandenburg radio.
That is why it is important "to ensure that they have the money they need to invest, now in an emergency - and later when it comes to prevention and reconstruction."
Schulze urged rapid help: "The federal and state governments must quickly find a solution to help those affected there in the regions." The environment minister also called for more investment in climate protection.
The storms showed that climate change had arrived in Germany.
"These are historic amounts of water that we see now."
Dreyer: "It's a long way, also an expensive way"
The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer (SPD), is also urging federal help to cope with the consequences of the storm.
“The suffering is great in our state.
Our state has never seen anything like it, "said Dreyer on ZDF.
It is clear that this disaster cannot be dealt with by the federal state alone, especially not by the municipalities.
"It's a long way, also an expensive way."
Dreyer called it "reassuring" that the federal government had already promised help.
The SPD politician also called for more efforts to protect the climate.
This "wave of madness" has burst all dimensions, there is no protection against it.
Therefore, above all, the cause of such a situation must now be eliminated.
"Anyone who has not yet understood that climate change has its consequences cannot be helped."
Seehofer: Federal government stokes a "big package"
The federal government wants to prepare extensive financial aid for the flood victims within a few days.
"My house is just developing the concept for this with the Federal Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz," said Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) to SPIEGEL.
"If possible, it should be in the cabinet on Wednesday," announced Seehofer.
He does not want to give details before there is a clear picture of the extent of the damage.
"But you can assume that it will be a large package," said the interior minister.
When the Elbe and Danube flooded the centuries, which affected eight federal states in 2013, the federal government set up a flood aid fund worth eight billion euros.
asa / AFP / Reuters