Happy to be still standing, volunteers in flooded village grateful for solidarity

Record ID: 1627065

  • Title: Happy to be still standing, volunteers in flooded village grateful for solidarity
  • Date: 16th July 2021
  • Summary: ERFTSTADT, GERMANY (JULY 16, 2021) (REUTERS) VOLUNTEER SORTING FOOD-DONATION BOX WITH FOOD DONATIONS VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER BIRGIT STROHMEIER OF CLEAN-UP ERFTSTADT AND COLLEAGUE SORTING DONATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Germany) VOLUNTEER BIRGIT STROHMEIER OF CLEAN-UP ERFTSTADT, SAYING: "So we from Cleanup Erftstadt and many, many volunteers have joined forces to collect food, to collect donations for the victims of current disaster here, to provide help for the people and especially for the relief workers, so that they can carry on, gather their strength to carry on. So groceries, drinks, food, anything we can." VARIOUS OF FRESH FOOD IN BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (Germany) VOLUNTEER BIRGIT STROHMEIER OF CLEAN-UP ERFTSTADT, SAYING: "We actually get an incredible amount of donations from the population, which is fantastic. The solidarity here is very clearly noticeable, which is quite nice. Yes, we've gathered a lot. We are currently sorting the donations here, which can later be used by those who really need it." PLASTIC CUPS AND PLATES PILED ON TABLE PILED UP BREAD ROLLS VARIOUS OF COFFEE AND OTHER DONATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Germany) VOLUNTEER BIRGIT STROHMEIER OF CLEAN-UP ERFTSTADT, SAYING: "Yes, we live here in Erftstadt. We are standing here today because we were fortunately not hit by it. A small group of people. But of course, we have many acquaintances, of whom we don't know how they are, who are affected in the surrounding villages. That is, of course, incredibly stressful. But we are now simply trying to gather forces, trying to help, and that is the best thing we can do." VOLUNTEER WASHING SALAD STROHMEIER PILING UP SANDWICHES VOLUNTEERS IN THE KITCHEN, VARIOUS PAN OVER COLLAPSED BUILDINGS AND STREET
  • Embargoed: 30th July 2021 15:43
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ERFTSTADT (GERMANY)
  • City: ERFTSTADT (GERMANY)
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Floods
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EM3B0W7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: While rescue works continue in the flood-hit town of Erftstadt, a group of volunteers have teamed up to gather food donations for those in need.
    "We are standing here today because we were fortunately not hit by it," said Birgit Strohmeier from the group Clean Up Erftstadt, who said she was still worried about the many they could not get in touch with as communications and internet networks were destroyed by floods.
    "Of course, we have many acquaintances, of whom we don't know how they are, who are affected in the surrounding villages. That is, of course, incredibly stressful. But we are now simply trying to gather forces, trying to help, and that is the best thing we can do."
    'Clean up Erftstadt', an environmental group that has existed for several years fighting for the conservation of green spaces, is collecting food donations and providing basic meals for people who need it in this moment of crisis, but also for the relief workers helping them with the crisis.
    On Friday morning several houses in the town had collapsed causing several casualties.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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