The European Union has urged Irish households to stockpile at least three days’ worth of supplies in case an emergency arises.
March 26, 2025 – European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib hold a press conference in Brussels, Belgium urging all EU citizens to start stockpiling essentials (Image: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Irish households have been urged by the European Union to consider stockpiling a number of essential items, as fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East continue to grow.
12 days ago, the United States and Israel launched a series of surprise air strikes on Iran, hitting multiple targets across the country. In response, Iran launched missiles, drones and other attacks against both US and Israeli positions.
Tensions have escalated further in recent days, after Iran targeted commercial ships in the Persian Gulf and areas near Dubai International Airport, following earlier Israeli and US air strikes on its country.
The conflict has already disrupted key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz – a vital lane through which around a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
The disruption has sent shockwaves through global markets, with oil prices climbing and concerns rising over potential shortages of fuel, fertiliser and other goods.
While Ireland is geographically far from the conflict, the country is still heavily dependent on global supply chains – meaning any long term disruption could lead to higher prices or delays in supermarkets and petrol stations.
Across Europe, countries including France, Norway and Finland have recently issued wartime survival guidance, instructing residents to stockpile food, water and other essentials in preparation for possible nuclear or large scale emergencies.
The European Union first recommended in March 2025 that households keep at least three days’ worth of supplies stockpiled should an emergency arise – advice that is just as relevant today as tensions mount between global powers.
Irish households have been told to make sure they have basic supplies such as food, water and medicine, in case of unforeseen crises ranging from wars and cyberattacks to energy disruptions or disease outbreaks.
Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib outlined the EU’s updated strategy for dealing with future disasters, stating: “Today’s threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected.”
While not wanting to sound alarmist, Lahbib said it’s important “to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis”.
Lahbib advised households to stockpile six essential items: Food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios.
She also stressed the importance of EU-level planning, calling for a “strategic reserve” of critical resources such as firefighting planes; medical, energy and transport equipment; and specialised assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The EU’s approach mirrors systems already in place in countries like France, Finland and Sweden. In 2024, Sweden updated its Cold War-era civil emergency advice “to better reflect today’s security policy reality”, including preparations for a potential nuclear attack.
However, the level of crisis preparedness varies across EU countries, and the commission is urging better coordination to ensure a rapid, effective response to any crisis. Lahbib added: “We can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions.”
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