1. German Federal Agency for Technical Relief

2. THW: A Federal Disaster Relief Organisation As a public agency in the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is a pillar of civil defence and disaster relief in Germany and an indispensable component in local hazard control. As a modern organisation based on voluntary commitment, it is THW’s most important mission to provide aid to the population in cases of disaster and accident and to cope with the most difficult tasks. THW has been accomplishing this legal mission since 1950.

3. Partner for people in distress As a disaster relief organisation supported by voluntary commitment, THW is a partner for people in distress. Throughout Germany, more than 76,000 citizens are dedicated to the good of their fellow citizens.  They are there when towns are in danger of being flooded.  They are there when vital facilities such as hospitals are cut off from electricity supply.  They are there when storms have blown roofs off, torn trees down and made streets impassable.  They are there when they are needed.

4. managment 116 *) Ubiquitous presence employees 8 state associations184 66 regional offices474 2 schools81 665 local sections with more than 76,500 volunteers 99% voluntary commitment

5. Partner in the integrated relief system Joint practices on the local, regional and national levels ensure that when training scenarios become true each and every move is exactly right. Cooperation agreements with partner organisations ensure a professional and stable structure sustainable in the future and one that the public can rely on.

6. THW: Maximum protection for the public THW’s “modular system”

7. THW and fire brigade of Hamburg in cooperation against pollution of the environment 2002 Spain, oil-tanker „Prestige“

8. Partner abroad As an instrument of the Federal government, THW is also used to provide quick, reliable and efficient support abroad. As a governmental organisation, THW offers its clients, such as the United Nations and the European Union, the certainty that projects will be implemented in a reliable and competent way. In cases of disaster, THW takes the factor of time into account with its so-called “Rapid Deployment Units”.

9. Partner in the international network of relief organisations Both in the global network of the United Nations and in cooperation with the European Union, THW plays a major role as a partner.  The EU Mechanism, as an integrated European relief system, has been further developed on the operative level in a substantial way through the participation of THW.  In the area of the United Nations, THW was a co-founder in establishing the cooperation platform for search and rescue operations, INSARAG.  Leaders of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are prepared for future deployments at the training sites of THW.

10. A reliable partner for the future  Active participation in conceptually and politically shaping the strategies to protect the public  Enhancement of cooperation between the relief and deployment organisations, also in the field of training  Further expansion of the rapid deployment units  Permanent and critical assessment of its objectives  Consistent implementation of new strategies and structures to optimise its efficiency

11. Deployed in case of oil spills When the black gold becomes a threat, the oil specialists of THW come into play. The experts channel and catch the pollutant with floating barriers and fill the oil into special containers. In case of low degrees of pollution, the polluted water can even be cleaned until it reaches the quality required for being discharged into surface waters. Technical Unit Oil Pollution

12. Salvage-agreement -between Poland and Germany (10.04.1997) EU Mechanism - as an integrated European relief system, has been further developed on the operative level in a substantial way through the participation of THW INSARAG - in the area of the United Nations, THW was a cofounder in establishing the cooperation platform for search and rescue operations Options of alerting

13. ...thank you for intently listening, if there are any questions more, I am available any time Mail:bernd.lehmann@thw.de