Germany’s first civil defence strategy, to be revealed on Wednesday, is believed to prioritise the of civilian backing of the armed forces in times of disaster or armed attack, increase capacity in the healthcare system and ensure the structual viability of public buildings.
More controversially, however, it advises people to stockpile food for ten days and water for five days, as published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Sunday.
It would also tell the public to hold a fallback supply of energy and cash.
The precautionary measures demand that people "prepare appropriately for a development that could threaten our existence and cannot be categorically ruled out in the future," the paper cited the report as saying.
The plan from the Interior Ministry is the first such plan since the end of the Cold War. It is due to be considered by the cabinet on Wednesday.
The government has been accused of scaremongering by the opposition party Die Linke (The Left) whose spokesman said: “By bringing out new plans all the time, the government could completely worry people and even lead them to panic buy.”
The government shouldn’t be adding to the sense of fear on a daily basis, Bartsch added.
Further details about Germany’s civil-defence strategy will be released on Wednesday, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said, adding that its release comes amid “a raft of new security measures in the country.”
The nation has been unnerved after a number of shocking events and is on high alert after two terrorist attacks and a shooting rampage.
Berlin announced measures earlier this month to spend considerably more on its police and security forces and to create a special unit to counter cyber crime and terrorism.
