Oslo: A Sudanese grassroots coalition of volunteer aid groups has been awarded Norway’s Rafto Prize for Human Rights, in recognition of its extraordinary efforts to preserve lives and dignity amid Sudan’s devastating civil war. The network, known as the Emergency Response Rooms (ERR), was praised for protecting what the Rafto Foundation described as “the most fundamental human right the right to life.”
The Emergency Response Rooms are not a centralized organization but a coalition of thousands of volunteers working across Sudan’s towns and villages. Born out of necessity when fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ERR quickly became a lifeline for communities cut off from formal aid.
The volunteers, often operating with limited resources, distribute food, deliver medicine, repair damaged water systems, and even restore electricity where possible. In areas abandoned by international agencies due to insecurity, these grassroots teams have stepped in to provide a semblance of normalcy and survival.
Announcing the award, the Rafto Foundation highlighted that the ERR’s work goes beyond humanitarian assistance. By keeping communities connected and fostering cooperation during one of the world’s most violent conflicts, ERR has also become a defender of dignity and resilience. The jury underlined that the group embodies “citizen participation at its most courageous,” proving that even in chaos, solidarity can flourish.
The award comes as Sudan continues to endure what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. The civil war has displaced over 12 million people, caused famine-like conditions in several regions, and left health systems in ruins. Millions are facing acute food shortages, and children are at the highest risk of malnutrition and disease.
With humanitarian agencies restricted by violence and bureaucracy, the ERR has stepped into a vacuum. Their efforts, though local, have had nationwide significance, helping communities endure where international relief has failed to reach.
The Rafto Prize, named after Norwegian human rights activist Thorolf Rafto, has a reputation for recognizing frontline defenders before they gain global renown. Past winners include figures who later received the Nobel Peace Prize, such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Jose Ramos-Horta, Kim Dae-jung, and Shirin Ebadi.
This year’s award carries a diploma and a cash prize of US$20,000, funds that ERR says will be directed toward sustaining their work under increasingly dire circumstances. Beyond the money, however, the recognition offers international visibility to Sudan’s crisis and underscores the importance of community-driven solutions in war zones.
For the ERR volunteers, many of whom risk their lives daily, the prize represents both encouragement and responsibility. It signals that their efforts though often unseen are valued by the wider world. Human rights advocates hope that the award will also galvanize greater international support for Sudan, where civilian suffering remains vast and underreported.
As Sudan’s war grinds on, the Emergency Response Rooms stand as a symbol of resilience: ordinary citizens stepping in to do extraordinary work, upholding the principle that even in the darkest moments, the right to life must be defended.