The Increasing Complexity of Disaster Risks in Serbia: A Call for Proactive Engagement

The dangers posed by disasters in Serbia are expected to grow more complex and severe in the coming years. In the face of these escalating threats, passivity is not an option. It is essential for individuals and communities alike to take an active role in proactive mitigation and disaster preparedness. Our future depends on the choices we make today, and the consequences of those decisions will shape the safety and well-being of generations to come. We are endowed with the freedom to choose, and it is imperative that we make informed and responsible decisions. Sitting idly by is not an option—we must confront the challenge of preparing for the worst-case scenarios that could compromise human safety, whether caused by natural disasters or technological catastrophes.

Serbia’s territory is susceptible to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic hazards. The risk is not uniform across the country; it varies depending on the type of hazard and its potential for destruction. Despite this, no comprehensive assessment has yet been made regarding the resilience of communities in Serbia to disasters. Without a solid scientific foundation, there is little opportunity to improve this resilience or to mitigate the future material and non-material impacts of disasters.

The development of a predictive model incorporating a Community Resilience Index for Disasters in Serbia would be a significant step forward. Such a model would create a foundation for crafting public policies, strategies, and procedures aimed at enhancing community resilience and reducing the impact of disasters on lives and property. This, in turn, would bolster public safety and prepare communities to anticipate and mitigate disaster risks more effectively. By integrating social identity indicators into predictions of community resilience, we can enhance disaster forecasting and readiness, ultimately helping to minimize the losses incurred during catastrophes. Additionally, establishing analytical frameworks to understand both community resilience and social identity in disaster contexts would lay the groundwork for designing innovative information systems. These systems would empower local communities to increase their resilience and effectively manage disaster risks.

Recognizing the critical role that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society play in disaster risk management—whether by contributing to public policy, advocating for improved preparedness and resilience, offering direct assistance to affected populations, or collaborating with emergency services—Professor Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković took the initiative on June 15, 2018, to establish the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (NSD-URVS). The Society was created to bring together scientists and practitioners from Serbia and the wider region, with the shared goal of advancing both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of disaster management. Furthermore, the Society aims to provide invaluable support to decision-makers at the local level and to leaders involved in managing emergency situations.

On that pivotal day, June 15, 2018, the founding assembly of the Society was convened. Under the leadership of Professor Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković, professors from the Faculty of Security Studies, the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, the Faculty of Geography, and the Faculty of Forestry came together to unanimously adopt the Statute that officially established the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management.

To further enhance the Society’s scientific mission, on December 21, 2020, the Statute was amended to establish the International Institute for Disaster Research. The Institute’s primary focus is conducting scientific research in the field of disaster studies. Its work is carried out in full compliance with Serbia’s Law on Scientific Research and is guided by the Institute’s established and adopted programmatic orientation. The Institute engages in a wide range of research activities, including basic, applied, and developmental studies related to disaster risk management. These efforts encompass a broad spectrum of topics: the phenomenology of disasters and hazards, preparedness and disaster risk reduction, protection and rescue operations, post-disaster recovery, international cooperation, and the legal frameworks that govern disaster response. The Institute also undertakes other activities in line with its Statute, always with the aim of advancing knowledge and practice in disaster management.

The Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (NSD-URVS) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established for an indefinite period. Its mission is to advance the theoretical understanding of disaster risk management, conduct quantitative and qualitative research, organize national and international conferences, launch and manage academic journals, and provide training and risk assessments. Through these and other academic activities, the Society seeks to contribute meaningfully to the field of disaster management, both in Serbia and beyond.

Figure 1. Official Emblem of the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management