"Stock up on ingredients that can be cooked quickly without water."
Foreign media reported that three Nordic countries?Sweden, Finland, and Norway?are distributing guidebooks containing instructions on how to act in the event of war. This measure has drawn attention amid rising concerns among Nordic countries bordering Russia due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to the UK’s BBC, the Swedish government began distributing guidebooks to each household from the 18th (local time) containing instructions on how to act in the event of war or other unexpected crises. The Swedish government, judging that the security situation has recently deteriorated, updated and published the guidebook titled "If crisis or war comes·Om krisen eller kriget kommer" for the first time in six years. BBC reported, "This implies that Russia could launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine," adding that "the size of the booklet has doubled."
The guidebook includes food items to stockpile for emergencies such as potatoes, cabbage, eggs, long-lasting bread, and quickly cooked pasta, as well as supplies to withstand the cold. It also contains over 40 checklists, including how to respond to government emergency broadcasts in case of power outages or communication failures, and actions to take to guard against smartphone hacking. In the center of the guidebook, a prominently displayed phrase reads, "Even if a foreign country attacks Sweden, we will never give up. Any news suggesting that resistance should stop is false."
Not only Sweden but also other Nordic countries such as Finland and Norway have started distributing revised and supplemented versions of wartime conduct guidebooks originally published during World War II to their citizens, tailored to the current situation. Finland recently posted an online guide titled "How to respond to crises." The Finnish guide provides detailed explanations about military conflicts, including how the government and president would respond in the event of an armed attack, along with assurances that authorities are well prepared for national defense.
Another Nordic country, Norway, recently distributed guidebooks to households containing instructions to prepare to survive alone for a week in case of abnormal climate, war, or other crises. The Norwegian government advised citizens to stockpile long-lasting foods such as canned beans, energy bars, and pasta, and to prepare medicines like iodine tablets in case of nuclear accidents.
This is analyzed as a result of heightened fears of war breaking out among Nordic countries neighboring Russia as the Ukraine war prolongs. Following Russia’s recent deployment of North Korean troops to the Ukrainian front, the United States has also authorized the use of long-range ground-to-ground missiles in Ukraine, increasing concerns about a full-scale war.
Finland, which maintained a neutral status for over 70 years after World War II, joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2022 after Russia began expanding the front lines. Sweden also joined as the 32nd member in March. Norway was one of the founding members of NATO.
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