The Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) () in Sudan is a community-led initiative that emerged from the
Sudanese resistance committees which spearheaded the
2019 revolution.
ERRs have played a vital role in humanitarian efforts amid the ongoing
Sudanese civil war The term Sudanese Civil War refers to at least three separate conflicts:
*First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972)
*Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005)
*South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2020)
It could also refer to other internal conflicts in Suda ...
between the
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which started on 15 April 2023.
As of February 2024, ERRs have provided help for more than four millions.
These volunteers have successfully evacuated tens of thousands of people from conflict zones,
provided essential services such as clean water and medical supplies, and have kept the few operational hospitals stocked with necessary fuel and supplies. In addition to these efforts, ERRs have maintained vital water and communication infrastructure, ensuring that communities remain connected and have access to clean water. They also run community kitchens that feed millions of people, addressing the severe food shortages caused by the conflict. EERs has also been active in responding to
sexual violence cases during the civil war.
In a statement by the office of the
on 12 April 2024, the European Union "applauds
dthe bravery and commitment of local and international humanitarian workers, particularly local NGOs and Emergency Response Rooms".
Most ERRs are not legally registered. ERRs are community funded but also receives funds from
Non-governmental organization, international development agencies, charities,
individuals, and local businesses. Nonetheless, in a press release in April 2024,
U.S. representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
for
Minnesota's 5th congressional district Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (born October 4, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Before her election to Congress, Omar served in the Minnesota ...
stated that there is a "need to significantly ramp up direct funding for Emergency Response Rooms – not only providing essential services but demonstrating our commitment to supporting civilian rule in Sudan."
Nevertheless, ERRs have faced significant challenges, including being targeted by both sides of the civil war, including arrest and abduction, rape, and killing.
For example, three ERRs volunteers were killed in 2023 while trying to assist civilians in Al Fiteihab,
Khartoum, and two more were killed in Naivasha Market.
ERRs is considered as an example of the
decolonisation of aid. The decolonisation of aid refers to efforts to transform the international aid system by addressing and dismantling the power imbalances and colonial legacies that have historically shaped it.
Further reading
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External links
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References
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Medical and health organisations based in Sudan
Sudanese civil war (2023–present)