Defence Secretary warns Brits to stock up on three items in case of an emergency
It's been a chaotic few years and the UK government are now urging better preparedness among its citizens amid the overhanging threat of a global conflict.
Although the UK has long made its standpoint clear when it comes to war, the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine and Iran and the US make it increasingly difficult for us to steer clear of it.
Russia has gone as far as preparing a list of potential targets in the UK, as the government continues to stand behind Ukraine on that matter, and the fears about WW3 are worryingly justified.
However, it seems as if many Brits are completely unprepared for a disaster that a global conflict would bring, as well as the increasing threat of weather disasters as we saw with the droughts in the summer.
Advert
And now Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting has urged the British public to have three crucial items at their disposal should disaster strike, suggesting that it's a 'simple ask of people' in these troubling times.
Speaking to The Sun, Streeting said: “It’s having some cash at home, having a supply of bottled water indoors, having some tinned goods that you can access if your electric goes and you’re not able to cook on the hob or in the microwave.
“These are basic things, and of course, you know, a lot of people just have that in their cupboard naturally.”
Although he called for alertness and not alarm, he also spoke about being prepared for more adverse weather conditions, something that will likely be brought on by the Super El Nino phenomenon which is expected to be the strongest in decades, and could lead to thousands of deaths across the world.
While the UK is unlikely to be as affected as other countries closer to the equator, it is still vital that people have sufficient stocks in their houses should we experience flooding or wildfires.
He added: “Do they have what they need indoors, should they lose access to their online banking for a period? Should they have a power cut?
“If there was a risk of wildfire, if there was a risk of flooding, sometimes it feels like even in communities that experience those sorts of events periodically, we’re not as prepared as we should be.”
What's most important for the public right now, according to Streeting, is working together as society in the face of a multitude of threats, whether it be weather, cyber attacks or a global conflict.
Apart from having cash, bottled water and tinned food, the government has also previously released a list of essentials that the public should stock up on, as well as a 72-hour survival kit that we should all have in the event of war.
James Moorhouse