Refugees revive German insurance industry, anti-terror squad expanded

By: Hany Danial

Germany is seeking to make better use of refugees despite the many challenges facing German foundations.

Reports have recently affirmed intentions of Chancellor Angela Merkel to allow more young refugees into Germany, a step Merkel sees to may revive the economy.

Doris Pfeiffer, president of the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds’ Board, affirmed that public insurance companies benefited the most from young refugees between the ages of 20 and 30.

Pfeiffer stressed that these ages are lower than the average ages registered at public insurance companies. She added that it was quite surprising for everyone that health care costs for this age group are usually much lower than other groups.

She also added that it seems that the benefit will continue even if this group grew older, provided that they get integrated into the labor market and become able to pay full health insurance services.

“Labor market integration for refugees is for the government, and how efficient are its efforts, to fulfill,” Pfeiffer added.

Germany’s elite police squad GSG 9, which deals with terrorist attacks, has expanded and set up a second base in Berlin in light of the growing terrorism threats and as some refugees were recruited by Daesh, which used the refugee crisis to smuggle fighters into Europe.

GSG 9 commander Jérome Fuchs announced that the second base ensures that the anti-terror cops have the ability to respond to threats quickly in the capital.

The GSG 9 currently is based in Sankt Augustin near the former West German capital; it was organized into three combat sub-units, namely snipers, divers and paratroopers.

The exact number of GSG 9’s members is not publicly disclosed but media outlets currently estimate it at 400.

It is still being planned, according to Fuchs, whether the new unit will get self-certification.

The GSG 9 commander added that the unit’s members will be trained against weapons of mass destruction, asserting that the unit is all about saving people’s lives.

Deutsche Welle reported that since its inception, GSG 9 has carried out over 1,900 operations, about 50 to 60 a year.

The operations included encountering the Berlin Christmas market attack, the Hamburg G20 Summit and arresting the attacker of the Borussia Dortmund team bus.

The GSG 9 has been deployed in all operations so far; Commander Fuchs, once a diver at the unit, deemed finding the “suitable generation” as a big challenge.

Fuchs clarified that fitness, stamina, harmony with team members, psychological stability and endurance during pressure are all taken into consideration.

According to Fuchs, only trained policemen are allowed to apply for the GSG 9 after passing a four-day trial that includes physical and psychological tests; successful applicants then receive 10-month training.

The GSG 9 is only deployed when being summoned by the Criminal Police, the Federal Police, the Customs Service, the Interior Ministry or the Foreign Affairs Ministry. It also gets deployed as backup for Special Forces.

Since 2015, another special unit of the Federal Police has been backing the GSG 9 in the war against terrorism; this unit is stationed at several areas in Germany, as it aims at raising the ability and durability of the Federal Police in case of any terrorist attacks.

It was also pointed out that during a drill last September, duties were assigned to the teams, as while the GSG 9 tracked down an attacker and eliminated it, the new special unit tried first to evacuate the danger zone.