Rescue teams from the grand duchy went to the province of Liège in Belgium and the Ahrweiler region of Germany on 14 and 16 July, respectively, to support local efforts to manage the effects of the flooding.
The team sent to Belgium consisted of six firefighters from Luxembourg’s fire and rescue service CGDIS. The team sent to Germany comprised 26 CGDIS liaison officers, firefighters and nurses, as well as ambulance drivers from the Luxembourg Red Cross who arrived on the scene with a command vehicle and ten ambulances. At the onset of the crisis in Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Red Cross also activated its solidarity fund to support victims.
Prime minister Xavier Bettel (DP) and interior minister Taina Bofferding (LSAP) welcomed the first teams to return from the missions to Germany and Belgium at the ministry of state on Tuesday 20 July, thanking them for their commitment. Bofferding described the mission as “an illustration of the close and friendly relations between Luxembourg and its two neighbours” while Bettel thanked the rescue teams both during the occasion and on Twitter.
Prime minister Xavier Bettel thanks rescue teams on their return from Germany and Belgium Photo: Xavier Bettel
“We stand by our German and Belgian neighbours in these dark moments of human tragedy. We deeply thank the Luxembourg rescue teams who, over the past days, have shown an exemplary commitment, not only here in Luxembourg, but also in supporting their colleagues on the other side of our borders. This is an illustration of the spirit of solidarity that unites us as countries, as friends—a solidarity that does not stop at the borders in times of need, but on the contrary is lived out on a daily basis,” stressed the prime minister during the occasion.
By 2025, the with the aim of speeding up its response in emergencies to within 15 minutes in 90–95% of cases.