Amsterdam issues 2000 emergency supply kits to poor households

Amsterdam city council is planning to send 2,000 emergency kits to low-income  households in response to the government’s call to people to stockpile 72 hours’ worth of supplies.

The packages, including an emergency radio, a first aid kit and a whistle, will be distributed via the city’s food bank this summer, mayor Femke Halsema and alderman for social affairs Rutger Groot Wassink said.

They also called on politicians in The Hague to take more substantial steps to help households prepare for a crisis such as a natural disaster, military invasion or a mass failure of essential services such as the electricity network.

Last year justice minister David van Weel said every Dutch household should stockpile 72 hours of emergency supplies, in line with European guidelines, but the government’s own efforts have mainly involved publishing an advisory booklet and setting up a website called Denk Vooruit.

Only 44% of households currently have emergency supplies in place, though this figure has risen from 35% since the government launched its campaign last year, according to a recent survey by Ipsos I&O.

In response to questions from left-wing party Denk, Halsema and Groot Wassink said they were concerned that some people were put off by the cost, but the city’s budget for tackling poverty only allowed them to issue kits to 2,000 households.

Supporting 10,000 households would cost €2 million, while helping 70,000 families would require an outlay of €10 million.

“The view of the council executive is that the national government has a responsibility to help this target group,” they said.