Belgium prepares for future crises with major awareness campaign
Belgium’s National Crisis Centre is launching a large-scale campaign aimed at boosting the population’s resilience in the face of the growing number of emergencies. The initiative seeks to prepare citizens for various crises by providing practical guidance on how to shelter, evacuate and create emergency plans.
“It is important that we learn how to take matters into our own hands during challenging times,” said outgoing Home Affairs minister Annelies Verlinden. “We cannot rely on the government for everything.”
“It is important that we learn how to take matters into our own hands during challenging times”
The campaign comes amid heightened global instability, marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, various geopolitical conflicts and a rise in natural disasters, such as the recent floods in Spain. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte recently emphasised the need for a “war mentality”, underscoring the necessity for nations and their inhabitants to adopt a state of preparedness.
The Crisis Centre reassures citizens that there is no immediate cause for alarm. Rather, the campaign aims to foster what it calls a “risk culture” by equipping people with the knowledge and tools to handle potential emergencies effectively.
Belgium’s campaign takes a different approach from that of Sweden, which recently distributed millions of booklets called In Case of Crisis or War. These comprehensive guides offered citizens practical tips, such as learning the meanings of various siren sounds and other emergency protocols.
While Sweden opted for a direct, widespread dissemination of detailed information, Belgium’s focus on laying the groundwork for a risk culture emphasises gradual awareness rather than an immediate, large-scale rollout of materials.
Belgium’s National Crisis Centre © BELGA PHOTO POOL DIRK WAEM
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