Sudan’s grassroots mutual aid groups, the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), visited Chatham House to receive the prize they were awarded last year
Sudan’s volunteer-led aid network – the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) – were handed the Chatham House Prize 2025 at a special ceremony on 26 March.
The ERRs were recognised for their vital work in delivering humanitarian support during the devastating conflict in Sudan.
Since the start of the war in April 2023, over thirteen million people have been displaced from their homes, with more than thirty-three million requiring humanitarian assistance, making Sudan the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Emerging from Sudan’s local traditions of mutual aid, the ERRs provide lifesaving essentials such as food and water to communities across Sudan’s 18 states, as well as providing medical assistance, education and responding to gender-based violence.
The grassroots movement has been recognized by several international bodies particularly for their impartial nature and their aim to provide aid for all parties caught up in the war, despite facing harassment and attacks from the conflict’s warring sides and members being killed and injured.
Four members of the network represented the ERRs at the prizegiving event: Alsanosi, Alaa, Abdalla and Khalid.
In her opening remarks at the ceremony, Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House, said:
‘[The Emergency Response Rooms] have meant the difference between life and death for many Sudanese. They provide food, clean water and medical supplies in areas that are often inaccessible to international organizations. They help maintain and repair infrastructure, from power lines to water systems. They organize evacuations from areas under bombardment and siege. They design and implement projects that support women, children and other vulnerable groups. They pay attention not only to immediate survival, but to dignity and social cohesion.’
During the event a message from King Charles to the ERRs was read by Sir Simon Fraser, Chatham House Chair.
Accepting the award, Alsanosi, who is a volunteer member of the external communications committee of the ERRs said the Prize belonged to the 26,000 ERRs volunteers, ‘who refuse to be victimized or disappear in the face of war.’
He added that:
‘This Prize is also a reminder of responsibility that recognition must not stop at applause. Sudan’s civilians continue to face famine, displacement, and violence. Emergency Response Rooms volunteers continue to operate with minimal resources, immense risk, and shrinking civic space. We see this award as a call to all of us to protect civic spaces in times of war; so that they remain the baseline to rebuild and transform Sudan.’
After the event, Alaa, who drives the ERRs gender-responsive support in Sudan’s North Kordofan, said:
‘This award is recognition that the voice of Sudanese women has been heard. It tells the world: Sudanese women aren’t victims; they are fierce leaders. We have been fighting, resisting and speaking out for a long time. I am working to promote women’s leadership because I want Sudanese women to not return to the shadows after this war.’
Abdalla, who is a volunteer coordinator for the ERRs’ committee said:
‘This award represents an opportunity to bring Sudan to the forefront of international attention. We hope it will help shine a greater light on the daily humanitarian efforts carried out by the Emergency Response Rooms. We dedicate this recognition to every volunteer who continues to serve despite the challenges.’
Khalid, who co-founded the ERRs in Sudan’s South Kordofan said:
‘Winning this award is global recognition of the efforts and courage of the Emergency Response Rooms volunteers, and a tribute to the Sudanese community. It serves as an incentive to continue protecting civilians and upholding their dignity, and to emphasise the role of local leadership in bringing about change.’
The Chatham House Prize 2025 was generously supported by Dr Mo Ibrahim, Open Society Foundations and Quadrature Climate Foundation.
The Chatham House Prize is voted for by Chatham House members, following nominations from Chatham House staff and presented to ‘the person, persons, or organization deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations.’
The Prize was launched in 2005. Previous recipients of the Prize include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sir David Attenborough, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
