Switzerland plans to upgrade its network of aging nuclear shelters, seen as a key asset at a time of global uncertainty, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported, quoted by News.bg.
Thanks to a 1963 law, each of Switzerland's 9 million residents, including foreigners and refugees, is guaranteed a place in a secure bunker that provides protection from bombs and nuclear radiation. This puts the country in a privileged position compared to its neighbors such as Germany.
„In the coming years, the Swiss confederation wants to remove some exceptions to the current rules and renovate some of the older shelters,“ said Louis-Henri Delarange, commander of the civil defense of the canton of Vaud.
In October, the government launched consultations aimed at ensuring “the resilience of Switzerland in the event of armed conflict.” The renovation of the old structures is planned with a budget of 220 million Swiss francs ($250 million).
“This does not mean that we are preparing for war – that is not the message. But we have a network of shelters and we must maintain them and make sure that they are functional,” Delarange explained.
Switzerland has remained neutral in international conflicts since 1815, after being occupied by France in the 18th century. Despite its neutrality, the country survived several air raids during World War II.
Louis-Henri Delarange reported a surge in interest in bunkers after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“Suddenly, we were really in high demand from people who wanted to know: where are the bunkers, where is my place, is my bunker ready?“
Next to Delarange’s office is one of the canton’s 350 public bunkers – a well-maintained facility with bunk beds and bathrooms. Nearby is an underground command center, an underground hospital with an operating room, and a bunker for protecting works of art.
“In Switzerland, we are forward-thinking,“ Delarange points out. “There is a Latin proverb that goes: Si vis pacem, para bellum – if you want peace, prepare for war.“