[D66] France sends 'survival manual' to citizens in case of war as Europe goes it alone

[René Oudeweg]

  mirror.co.uk
France sends 'survival manual' to citizens in case of war as Europe goes 
it alone
William Morgan, Kris Boratyn
4–5 minutes

The 20-page booklet will be sent to households across France, offering 
guidance on how to respond to emergencies such as armed conflict, 
natural disasters, industrial accidents, or a nuclear leak
Emmanuel Macron


The French government is set to distribute a new survival guide to homes 
nationwide, detailing how to handle emergencies amid an intense moment 
of global instability. This comprehensive 20-page pamphlet will advise 
residents on actions to take in scenarios such as armed conflict, 
natural disasters, industrial incidents, or nuclear leaks.

The manual contains 63 different measures and covers ways to safeguard 
citizens and others in their vicinity. It includes information on how 
French people can join local defence initiatives by joining reserve 
forces or fire service units.

Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and President Emmanuel Macron’s 
previous public warnings about the "Russian threat", alongside the 
recent hints that the US military presence in Europe might wane, the 
French authorities have claimed that the booklet is not a direct 
reaction to these developments.

Subject to Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's green light, the manual will 
be mailed out to French homes before the summer. In its guidance, the 
manual promotes assembling an emergency kit stocked with essentials such 
as food, water, batteries, and medical supplies, including paracetamol, 
compresses, and saline solution.


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In the face of a nuclear incident, the advice is to lock doors and 
remain indoors. A spokesperson from the Prime Minister's office has 
stated that the manual aims to bolster "the resilience of populations in 
the face of all types of crisis, whether natural, technological, cyber, 
or security-related."

Other European nations have rolled out similar schemes recently, reports 
the Express. Sweden took a proactive step by distributing five million 
leaflets to homes with the title "If Crisis or War Comes" in late 2023, 
urging citizens to gear up for possible armed conflict.

The leaflet highlighted the growing military threats and recommended 
hoarding food and water, keeping cash reserves, and cultivating fruit 
and vegetables.

Finland, too, has stepped up its preparedness with a government website 
designed to assist its people in preparing for various crisis scenarios. 
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both Sweden and Finland have 
abandoned their long-standing military neutrality to join NATO.


The release of this manual in France has elicited a range of responses. 
Some critics, like Le Figaro, have scrutinised the timing of its 
publication, hinting that it "could easily be interpreted as a reaction 
to the unstable international situation."

Meanwhile, others have taken a lighter view of the guidance provided. 
Comedian Matthieu Noel, while on France Inter radio, poked fun at the 
suggestion to "shut doors" during a nuclear attack, quipping that "Putin 
can drop a nuclear bomb on Paris, Ebola can hit the Cantal region, we'll 
be ready."

He also quipped: "While you're at it, how about, in case of a tsunami, 
no snorkelling?"

According to the French government, this manual is part of a nationwide 
resilience plan that was introduced in 2022 in response to the Covid-19 
pandemic. The authorities claim their main goal is to get people ready 
for different kinds of emergencies and improve how the public is 
informed during a crisis.