More and more German soldiers who have served in Afghanistan suffer from mental problems, said parliamentary plenipotentiary for the armed forces Reinhold Robbe in a report on the Bundeswehr presented on Tuesday.
Last year, 466 soldiers were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is almost twice as much as in 2008, according to the report.
Almost 90 percent soldiers who suffer from mental disorders have previously served in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. According to Robbe, many soldiers hide their mental problems out of shame.
German soldiers serving in Afghanistan complain of a lack of equipment, including an insufficient number of armored vehicles, insufficient preparation for the mission, and too few doctors in the army. As Robbe emphasized, it is unacceptable for soldiers to argue that there is not enough money to improve in this area.
In his report, Robbe also called for greater public support for the participation of the German army in foreign missions. It is not about political consent to participate in the mission, but understanding for the soldier who puts his health and life at risk for our country – assessed the plenipotentiary for the armed forces, who acts as a specific spokesman for the rights of soldiers.
About 4500 Bundeswehr soldiers are currently stationed near the Hindu Kush. According to polls, most Germans oppose their country’s participation in the ISAF mission.
Anna Widzyk (PAP)