Following the acceptance of the Luxembourg government's offer of assistance from Belgium and Germany, rescue teams from the Grand Duchy went to the province of Liège and the region of Ahrweiler to support them in their fight against bad weather, on Wednesday and Friday last week.
The team sent to Belgium consisted of 6 firefighters from the aquatic rescue group of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS). The team dispatched to Rhineland-Palatinate consisted of 26 people - liaison officers, firefighters and nurses from the CGDIS as well as ambulance personnel from the Luxembourg Red Cross. The latter went there with a command vehicle and ten ambulances.
On their return, Luxembourg's Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior invited them to the Ministry of State this morning, Monday 20 July 2021, to thank them for their commitment and exchange views on their experiences during their deployment. Over a chat, they shared coffee and croissants.
“This aid is an illustration of the close and friendly relations between Luxembourg and its two neighbouring countries and finds its basis in bilateral agreements. I warmly thank these men and women, all firefighters and paramedics for their prompt help!" said Taina Bofferding, Minister of the Interior.
“We are alongside our German and Belgian neighbours in these dark times filled with human tragedies. We deeply thank the Luxembourg rescue teams who, for days now, have shown exemplary commitment, not only here in Luxembourg, but also by supporting their colleagues on the other side of our borders. It is the illustration of the spirit of solidarity which unites us between countries, between friends - a solidarity which does not stop at the borders in times of need, but on the contrary is lived on a daily basis”, underlined the Prime Minister and Minister of State, Xavier Bettel.