CEV member organisations

Germany: Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (Partner )

Contact information

Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk
Provinzialstrasse 93
53127 Bonn
Germany

Tel: +49-228-940-0
Fax: +49-228-940-1144

Email: operationszentrale@thw.de
Website: http://www.thw.bund.de/

Member information

About THW

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) was founded on September 12, 1950 by Otto Lummitzsch on behalf of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. THW is the operative civil protection organisation of the Federal German Government. Its statutory tasks include the provision of technical assistance at home and humanitarian aid abroad.

Today, more than 80,000 volunteers, as well as roughly 800 full-time employees, are part of THW. Together, they form the foundation of the qualified technical assistance provided at home and abroad. THW Youth e.V. is an independent organisation of young people between 10 and 17 within THW.

Official functions

The functions of THW are defined in the THW-law: THW provides technical relief 1. following the laws of civil protection and emergency aid, 2. abroad by attorney of the Federal German Government and 3. in state of local, regional and national emergencies or disasters. The main fields of activity are search and rescue, salvage operations, pumping, logistic support, management and communication and rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage). The Rapid Deployment Units for Search, Rescue and Water Supply Abroad, SEEBA and SEEWA, complete THW’s spectrum.

Structure

Under the direction of THW-headquarters, THW comprises 668 local branches, 66 offices, 8 regional offices, THW National Training Centre with 2 sites and one Logistics Centre. THW offers a combination of all-purpose basic components and specialized expert groups. The Rapid Deployment Units for Search, Rescue and Water Supply Abroad, SEEBA and SEEWA, complete THW’s spectrum.

Missions

In 2009, THW-volunteers were in action for a total of approximately 490,000 hours after being requisitioned by various public utility providers (e.g. police, fire departments, disaster management authorities, the governments of local and regional administrative districts or federal states, the Federal Government or the EU).

Assignments to support disaster prevention in neighbouring countries, participation in the European Community Mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection interventions both inside and outside the European Union, close contact to various United Nations organisations, including UNHCR, UNJLC.

THW is member of the international platform for USAR units "International Search and Rescue Advisory Group" (INSARAG) within the United Nations.

In Germany, THW is requested in many cases of emergency, particularly when the equipment and the special skills of its members are needed for assistance in local or regional emergencies.

The Federal Government has frequently ordered THW to provide international assistance in crisis situations such as earthquakes, flooding, drought and refugee emergencies. In general these operations are integrated into plans of action of the European Union or the United Nations. As of today, THW has carried out hundreds of missions abroad.