The EU-funded Sonar-Cities project, which starts in December 2024, aims to involve vulnerable population groups more closely in disaster management. Coordinated by the Institut Pasteur in France, the multidisciplinary consortium brings together 13 partners from seven countries. In six European cities, innovative tools are being developed together with civil society organizations, first responders and local authorities to promote inclusion in risk management, improve crisis preparedness and reduce health risks. MedUni Vienna is leading a central work package that includes the analysis and further development of crisis communication and public participation, supported by the expertise of medical anthropologist Ruth Kutalek and in cooperation with the Austrian Red Cross.
Disasters, including health emergencies, place an enormous burden on the response capacities of cities, countries and the European Union (EU) and exacerbate multiple, overlapping climatic, political, economic and social challenges. Examples of disasters affecting Europe range from extreme weather events, epidemics, industrial accidents to conflict and war. Although the frequency of such disasters in Europe is relatively low, their risks and consequences increasingly transcend national borders and can have a huge impact on the health and well-being of European citizens.
The new EU-funded Sonar-Cities project, which will start in December 2024, is a multidisciplinary consortium of 13 partners from Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Sweden and is coordinated by the Institut Pasteur, France. The aim of To this end, a set of instruments with community-based tools for various target groups and interest groups will be jointly developed and implemented in six European cities (Vienna, Groningen, Ljubljana, Stockholm, Udine and Zagreb). In collaboration with civil society organizations working for vulnerable people, first responders and local authorities, we will strengthen inclusion in risk management, improve preparedness and reduce the health risks posed by these emergencies.
The active participation of vulnerable groups in pandemic and disaster preparedness is necessary to achieve truly people-centered disaster management.
MedUni Vienna is leading work package 2 and will retrospectively analyze the management, crisis communication and public participation in past and recent urban disasters and formulate policy recommendations. MedUni Vienna will work closely with the Austrian Red Cross. Medical anthropologist Ruth Kutalek from MedUni Vienna’s Center for Public Health will act as Principal Investigator and provide her expertise on social behavior during disasters.
Horizon Europe
Sonar-Cities (Social Sciences Participatory Research-Action for Preparedness in Risk Management for Disasters and Health Emergencies in Europe’s Cities) is funded by Horizon Europe - the EU program for research and innovation. It is the largest transnational research funding program in the world.
