Greenland Government Urges Citizens to Prepare for Potential Crises with New Survival Manual
The government of Greenland has taken the significant step of releasing an official 11-page preparedness manual, offering practical and simple advice to households on how to sustain themselves during potential emergencies. This publication comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension, following renewed statements from former US President Donald Trump regarding the territory's future.
Essential Supplies for Five-Day Self-Sufficiency
The comprehensive guidance document encourages Greenlandic citizens to ensure they can be completely self-reliant for a minimum of five days in the event of a crisis. The manual outlines critical areas of preparation, with specific recommendations for essential supplies.
- Food and Water: Households are advised to stockpile non-perishable food items, including dried meats, fish, and canned goods. The manual emphasises access to at least three litres of drinking water per person, per day.
- Hunting and Defence Equipment: Notably, the guidance explicitly mentions monitoring firearms, ammunition, and fishing equipment, acknowledging that hunting could become a vital food source during an extended emergency.
- Medicine and Special Needs: The document also covers the importance of securing necessary medications and making provisions for individuals with special care requirements.
Coinciding with Trump's Renewed Annexation Interest
The manual's launch occurred on the very same day that Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, publicly ruled out a military takeover of Greenland. However, he simultaneously reaffirmed his long-standing ambition to annex the strategically important Arctic territory. This juxtaposition has created a palpable atmosphere of uncertainty among the local population.
Greenland's Minister for Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sufficiency, Peter Borg, sought to clarify the manual's intent. He stated that the document is not an expression of anticipation of a specific crisis, but rather a proactive measure to strengthen the overall preparedness and security of Greenlandic society. The logic, as outlined in the advice, is that if households can manage independently for five days, authorities can better focus their efforts on assisting the most vulnerable and working to normalise any situation.
A Population Living Under a Cloud of Worry
Despite official reassurances, residents in the capital, Nuuk, have expressed deep-seated concerns to reporters. Many Greenlanders have stated they do not trust the former US President and are living with a persistent sense of anxiety about their political future.
Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut (the National Organisation for Greenlanders in Denmark), powerfully captured the prevailing mood. She remarked that since Trump first announced his intentions to acquire Greenland, its people have been metaphorically sleeping with their boots on. "They have to find their weapons, their rifles. They have to be ready to take care of themselves for five days," she said, adding, "This is a new era now and we need to be ready."
The government notes that work to revise this preparedness advice began last year, initially prompted by concerns over a series of long-term and short-term power outages. However, its release into the current political climate has given the practical guidance a much sharper, more urgent resonance for the citizens it aims to protect.
