The Italian village of Onna was almost completely destroyed in the earthquake which hit Abruzzo in the night from 5 to 6 April 2009. Of the 280 villagers 45 lost their lives.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior has sent a seven-strong THW team to Onna to help rebuild the village. The Federal Foreign Office has provided 140,000 euro to finance the project, which is set to last several months. From today (7 May), the THW team will be taking part in the clear-up and reconstruction work organized by Italy's civil protection agency, and will step up cooperation with the Italian authorities. The THW and its Bavarian branch have been in close contact with Italy's civil protection authorities.

The German Embassy in Rome is in close touch with the local authorities to coordinate Germany's assistance.

Onna's history is tragically linked to National Socialist crimes in Italy: in 1944 Wehrmacht soldiers killed 17 innocent villagers and several houses were blown up. Germany's commitment to Onna's reconstruction is thus also a contribution towards German-Italian reconciliation.