About Us

The Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (SPS-DRM)(Naučno-stručno društvo za upravljanje rizicima u vanrednim situacijama) is a dynamic, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of disaster risk management. Established for an indefinite period, our mission is to elevate the theoretical knowledge base, conduct cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative research, organize impactful national and international conferences, launch and manage academic journals, deliver comprehensive training programs, and perform thorough risk assessments, along with other academic activities in this vital field. Recognizing the immeasurable importance and pivotal role of non-governmental organizations and civil society in disaster risk management, including their proactive contributions to public policy, risk reduction actions, advocacy for enhanced preparedness and resilience, aid to affected individuals, and collaboration with emergency response services, Prof. Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković founded NSDR-URVS on June 15, 2018. This organization unites scientists and practitioners from Serbia and the region to collectively advance theoretical and empirical principles and support local decision-makers and leaders in managing disaster situations effectively.

The Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (NSDR-URVS) is led by President Prof. Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković, with Anja Beli serving as the Secretary. NSDR-URVS boasts a diverse membership of over 1,500 individuals, including professors from all state and private universities and faculties in Serbia, scientific researchers, practitioners (such as members of the police force, fire and rescue units, emergency medical services, military, and security-related NGOs), as well as students and young professionals directly or indirectly involved in research and practical activities related to emergency situations. Membership is open to all interested individuals and can be obtained by filling out the application form available on our website and submitting it via the Society’s email. Join us and be part of a vibrant community dedicated to advancing the field of disaster risk management.

To further enhance our scientific endeavors, on December 21, 2020, we adopted the Statute and established the International Institute for Disaster Research. This institute serves as a hub for basic, applied, and developmental scientific research in disaster risk management. Our research spans various crucial areas, including disaster and hazard phenomenology, preparedness and risk mitigation, protection and rescue operations, disaster recovery, international cooperation, and legal frameworks related to disasters. We are committed to exploring innovative solutions and sharing our findings to build a safer, more resilient world.

Goals of SPS-DRM

The Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (SPS-DRM) is committed to achieving several key objectives. Firstly, it focuses on conducting research in the field of disaster studies. This includes undertaking comprehensive studies to understand the various facets of disasters and their management. Secondly, the Society aims to establish and manage an international journal, specifically the International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, to facilitate the dissemination of research findings and advancements in the field. Additionally, SPS-DRM is dedicated to preparing, applying for, and implementing national and international projects on various aspects of disaster risk management. This involves collaborating with various stakeholders to secure funding and support for impactful projects. The Society also prioritizes the promotion, design, implementation, and improvement of preventive measures against disasters, ensuring communities are better prepared and resilient.

Another crucial objective is raising public awareness. SPS-DRM develops and executes campaigns, programs, and plans to enhance public understanding of the necessity for improved disaster preparedness. This includes educating the public on best practices and safety measures. Furthermore, the Society organizes national and international scientific conferences on disaster risk management, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and networking among professionals. Conducting expert risk assessments and developing protection and rescue plans for emergency situations are also vital goals. These activities ensure that there are robust plans in place to mitigate the impact of disasters. Moreover, SPS-DRM is committed to organizing and conducting various forms of training, courses, seminars, and other educational activities for citizens, students, and employees in interested institutions. These programs are designed to enhance skills and knowledge in disaster risk management. Lastly, the Society performs other tasks in accordance with the law and its Statute, ensuring compliance and alignment with broader regulatory and organizational frameworks. Through these comprehensive efforts, SPS-DRM aims to significantly contribute to the field of disaster risk management and improve community resilience.

National Statistical Data on Disasters in Serbia

Serbia is vulnerable to various natural and anthropogenic hazards. The risk is not uniform across the country, varying depending on the type of hazard and the estimated potential damage. Seismic hazards, landslides, rockfalls, floods, flash floods, erosion, droughts, and forest fires are some of the significant natural hazards that occur in Serbia. The current state of disaster protection in Serbia is characterized by incomplete and inaccessible information about risks from potential natural disasters, their consequences, and insufficient public participation. There is a clear lack of capacity among local authorities, technical services, and consultants to adopt a modern disaster risk management (DRM) approach. Additionally, there is no unified database on the spatial distribution of specific hazards or identification of potentially critical zones (e.g., flood zones, landslide maps, torrents). The overall state of the disaster protection system in Serbia is unsatisfactory, especially concerning the spatial aspects of DRM.

Between the 1970s and 2002, approximately 5,000 disasters occurred in Serbia. According to the international DesInventar database, 2,331 disasters were recorded in Serbia between 1980 and 2023, with the following distribution: 6 disasters from 1980–1990, 56 from 1990–2000, 301 from 2000–2010, and 1,626 from 2010–2023, including 316 disasters from 2020–2023. Based on available data, these disasters include 11 accidents, 9 hazardous material contaminations, 51 droughts, 30 explosions, 20 epidemics, 307 fires, 583 floods, 626 forest fires, 68 landslides, 270 hailstorms, 17 hazardous material leaks, and 157 snowstorms. From 2017 to 2021, 404 disasters occurred, distributed as follows: 29 disasters in 2017 (affecting 4 cities and 22 municipalities), 71 in 2018 (5 cities and 40 municipalities), 67 in 2019 (7 cities and 42 municipalities), 204 in 2020 (37 cities and 136 municipalities), and 96 in 2021 (10 cities and 60 municipalities).

According to UNOCHA’s ReliefWeb statistics, floods have been the most frequent disasters, with 15 major floods occurring between 1988 and 2014. From 2007 to 2016, Serbia experienced around 20 disasters, resulting in 90 fatalities, 6,140 injuries, and $2 million in material damage. Significant flood events include the Kolubara Basin floods in 1996 and 2011, the Velika Morava flood in 1999, the Kolubara and Drina floods in 2001, and others in subsequent years, impacting regions like the Južna Morava, Zapadna Morava, and Timok rivers.

Fire incidents have also increased significantly in Serbia, along with associated casualties and injuries. Between 2003 and 2011, approximately 134,686 fires were recorded. From 2012 to 2022, there were 38,279 fires in residential buildings, resulting in 665 fatalities, 1,747 injuries, and 2,134 rescues. For example, 946 fires with 7 fatalities occurred in 2012, and 842 fires with 23 fatalities occurred in 2020. The capital city, Belgrade, consistently records the highest number of fires, with 3,643 incidents in 2016 and 5,142 in 2018. Forest fires are another significant risk, particularly in eastern and southeastern Serbia, where 16,357 hectares of forest burned between 1999 and 2008, with significant economic and environmental impacts.

Serbia is located in a region of moderate seismic activity. Around 180 earthquakes with epicenters in or near Serbia have caused significant material damage and loss of life. Between 1900 and 1970, notable earthquakes occurred in Rudnik, Lazarevac, Juhor, Krupanj, Jagodina, and Vitina. After 1970, moderate earthquakes were recorded in Kopaonik, Mionica, and Trstenik. Over 6,000 minor earthquakes have also been recorded, with uneven epicenter distribution complicating the identification of active faults.

Between 1915 and 2013, Serbia experienced 848 floods, resulting in 133 fatalities. The most critical flood event occurred in May 2014. Additionally, Serbia has faced various epidemics, such as the plague in the 14th century, typhus during World War I, measles in 1972, tularemia in the 1990s, and the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019–2021.

Landslides affect 20–25% of Serbia’s territory, while rockfalls and slope instabilities are prevalent in river valleys and unsecured slopes near roads, impacting 5–10% of the territory. These geological processes pose significant risks, causing substantial economic damage. Hailstorms are most frequent in western Serbia, Fruška Gora, Šumadija, and southern Bačka. On average, Serbia experiences 49 days of hail per year, with a maximum of 76 days recorded in 2002.

In conclusion, Serbia’s exposure to diverse hazards underscores the importance of enhancing disaster risk management systems, improving data collection and analysis, and increasing public awareness to build resilience and mitigate the impacts of future disasters.

STATISTIKA KATASTROFA U SRBIJI / DESINVENTAR

International Statistical Data on Disasters

From 1900 to 2013, approximately 25,552 disasters occurred worldwide, with the majority being hydrospheric, followed by meteorological, lithospheric, climatic, and biospheric disasters. During this period, approximately 65 million people lost their lives, 15 million were injured, 13 billion were affected, and around 337 million were left homeless. The estimated material damage, expressed in U.S. dollars, totaled approximately $5 billion. It is noteworthy that floods were the most frequent disasters, accounting for around 8,000 events, while landslides and rockfalls were the least frequent, with only about a hundred recorded incidents. By disaster type, the following events were recorded: approximately 694 floods, 596 storms, 221 epidemics, 206 earthquakes, 106 droughts, 102 tsunamis and flash floods, 81 extreme temperature events, 62 wildfires, 38 volcanic eruptions, 14 insect-borne infections, and 9 landslides and rockfalls.

Between 1900 and 2013, an annual average of 694 floods, 596 storms, 221 epidemics, 206 earthquakes, 106 droughts, 102 tsunamis and flash floods, 81 extreme temperatures, 62 wildfires, 38 volcanic eruptions, 14 insect-borne infections, and 9 landslides and rockfalls were reported globally. Overall, there were 2,129 natural disasters annually, resulting in 65,009,766 fatalities, 15,221,227 injuries, and 13,566,647,548 affected individuals. Additionally, 337,112,287 people were left homeless, and total material damages amounted to $5,066,645,713. During the observed period, the highest number of natural disasters (10,240) occurred from 2000 to 2013, while the lowest (162) were recorded between 1910 and 1920. The highest number of fatalities (12,764,966) occurred between 1900 and 1910, while the lowest (973,794) was recorded from 1990 to 2000. The most injuries (8,268,219) occurred between 2000 and 2013, while the fewest (82) were reported from 1900 to 1910. The highest number of affected individuals (5,306,219,458) was recorded from 2000 to 2013, while the lowest (566,000) occurred between 1900 and 1910. From 2000 to 2013, the highest number of people left homeless (152,128,062) was recorded, compared to the lowest (140,200) between 1940 and 1950.

In percentage terms, the majority of natural disasters (40.00%) occurred from 2000 to 2013, while the fewest (0.63%) were recorded between 1910 and 1920. The highest percentage of fatalities (19.66%) occurred from 1910 to 1920, while the lowest (1.50%) occurred between 1990 and 2000. The highest percentage of injuries (54.52%) was reported between 2000 and 2013, while the lowest (0%) was recorded between 1900 and 1910. The largest proportion of affected individuals (39.23%) was reported from 2000 to 2013, while no recorded affected population (0%) was noted from 1900 to 1920. The highest percentage of homelessness (45.12%) occurred between 1990 and 2013, while the lowest (0.01%) was recorded between 1900 and 1910. Finally, the greatest material damages (59.84%) occurred between 2000 and 2013, while the lowest (0.04%) were recorded between 1920 and 1930.

EM-DAT contains data on the occurrence and impacts of over 26,000 mass disasters worldwide from 1900 to the present. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, reinsurance companies, research institutes, and news agencies. The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) distributes the data under open access for non-commercial use. The Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) was established in 1988 as a joint initiative of the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the World Health Organization (WHO). CRED is now part of the Institute of Health and Society at the University of Louvain (UCLouvain). The EM-DAT database and project are primarily sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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