Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The National Crisis Centre will be launching a campaign to improve Belgium’s crisis preparedness that focuses on practical steps like emergency plans. Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden emphasized the need for increased awareness due to rising global tensions, disasters, and cyberattacks.
Minister Verlinden said,
“We no longer live in the peace we hoped for”
The National Crisis Centre will launch a comprehensive campaign by next year so that the population of Belgium enhances its level of preparedness against the increased crises. Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) highlighted the growing urgency of preparing well, owing to the geopolitical rise and the growth in the frequency of natural disasters and cyberattacks.
Minister of the Interior, announced during an appearance on Radio 1’s De Ochtend.
The global situation has changed, and we need to step it up. In Belgium, we’ve lacked a strong crisis culture in recent decades, and we want to begin addressing that.
Under an upcoming campaign, all practical steps a citizen needs to prepare for an emergency. “Among them”, said Annelies Verlinden,
will include seeking shelter, evacuating from the present location, and creating an emergency plan that includes making a list of contact persons, remembering the numbers for emergency calls, and planning things like an emergency battery for the home.
Annelies noted, stressing the importance of personal preparedness in crises:
Experience shows that we, as individuals, can take meaningful steps to be well-prepared,
In all recent events that include devastating floods, cyberattacks, and other disasters, Minister Annelies expressed the need for everyone to be ready to handle such incidents.
We see a lot of scary things happening around us. We have been confronted with floods and cyberattacks here too. All of us need to prepare ourselves as best we can to face such challenges.
Even though the whole campaign targets the preparation of citizens, Minister Verlinden was adamant that this campaign was not to scare them. In reaction to recent comments by NATO chief Mark Rutte who urged citizens to “Prepare mentally for war,”
Annelies emphasized a more measured approach
We must avoid panic. The message we want to convey is that people can take small, practical steps so that they can manage for a few hours in case of emergency, allowing emergency services to focus on the most vulnerable.
The National Crisis Centre plans to roll out the campaign throughout next year, engaging a wide array of organisations, including associations, schools, businesses, and local governments.
NCC Belgium’s Critical Role in Crisis Management
NCC Belgium played a critical role in coordinating emergency responses, support of victims, and international collaborations following the 2016 Brussels bombings. After the 2021 floods, NCC Belgium spearheaded rescues and evacuations, coordinated emergencies, and secured European aid that supported significant reforms in Belgium’s crisis management system.
