Dusseldorf (dpa) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised people for supporting each other after devastating floods in July and said those affected would not be left to recover from the disaster alone, as the state of North Rhine Westphalia celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Merkel promised people they would not be left alone with this Herculean task, referring to the reconstruction needed after floods that left 184 dead and caused widespread destruction in the western German states of North Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Merkel said she could still see the images of the terrible flood disaster in her mind’s eye. She pledged to ensure people were warned sooner of impending disasters in future.
Merkel also said it was all the more important to meet the country’s climate targets, given the increasing number of extreme weather events.
Merkel, who will not stand for re-election in the coming polls after 16 years at the helm, was also celebrated at the event that marked the 75th anniversary since the founding of North Rhine Westphalia.
State premier Armin Laschet thanked Merkel for her leadership during her years in power.
Lachet is the candidate for chancellor from the Christian Democrats and hopes to succeed Merkel after the September election.
North Rhine Westphalia was founded in 1946 by the British military government after World War II.
The event was also attended by British Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Merkel also called for efforts to provide sufficient quantities of the vaccine against Covid-19 for Africa.
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