Extreme right groups Germany According to reports, including Covid vaccine opponents and right-wing supporters, the populist AfD party is trying to win support by providing assistance to rescue operations in flooded areas of the country.
Due to flooding, approximately 30,000 people have been homeless or cut off water and electricity in most areas of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. German blockbuster destroyed Just two weeks ago.
An investigation conducted by a team of on-site reporters from Newsweek Der Spiegel found that social media channels organized by the so-called Querdenker (Horizontal Thinker) included vaccination opponents and preparers (people preparing for catastrophic events). ), calling on helpers to go to Ahrweiler in the Rhineland-Palatinate state, which is one of the hardest-hit areas.
According to the report, these groups said they needed help because official organizations such as the fire brigade, police, military, and volunteer Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) brigade failed to provide enough help, and even hindered volunteers’ efforts to go to the scene. Scenes.
According to reports, in addition to clean-up operations, these groups also provide help to take care of children, deliver medicines and hot food. “Human power comes first” (The power of the people stands out) is one of the slogans used.
According to reports, some militants have begun to appear at the disaster site wearing vehicles and fake uniforms, making them appear to be either German soldiers or police.
The reporter found that a car painted with white and blue markings was very similar to a standard police car, but with the label “Peace Car”. One of the passengers announced through a loudspeaker that they had come to help because the number of official rescuers was declining-the police and other emergency services categorically denied this claim.
Many people affected by the flood cannot question the accusations of human rights defenders because electricity is still interrupted and it is difficult to access the Internet or mainstream media.
Officials in Ahrweiler and other affected towns declined to comment, especially because too many people have stepped in to help with the cleanup, many of whom have sacrificed their holidays.
Sabine Lackner, deputy head of THW, said that many of its 6,500 volunteers “reached physical and psychological limits.” She said that they work an average of 12 hours a day, and she expects them to work at full capacity in the next few weeks.
“We are discussing with the authorities which priority bridges must be rebuilt,” she told Der Spiegel, “and what we can do until professionals — many of which are affected — can work again. Everything is destroyed. .”
She said that militants tried to intimidate them by filming and filming THW volunteers, “and claimed that the state agency did nothing to help the people, only they were doing anything”.
“After they were cut off for a few days, THW entered the village and the experienced residents were very angry because they felt that no one was taking care of them. I can understand,” she said.
Lackner said that anger has a lot to do with the scale of the challenge. In the 20 years of dealing with floods and other disasters, she said: “I have never experienced such a bad thing.”
