Insufficient aid is reaching those in need. In late December, TIME had a discussion with four volunteers from ERR who were working on the ground in Sudan. The volunteers were connected through WhatsApp by Ahmed, who is now based in the United States. Mozdilfa Esamaldin Abakr, one of the volunteers, spoke from a camp for displaced people in North Darfur province. “We are facing a famine,” she explained. “We are witnessing the loss of 20 children daily due to starvation.” Most of the deceased children are between the ages of 2 and 3, she added. Abakr highlighted the lack of essential supplies like rehydration solutions at the local health center. She mentioned that although there is a section for malnutrition, the center does not have enough resources due to unsafe corridors and limited funds. The town of El Fasher is bombed regularly by both the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), previously known as the janjaweed militia during the genocide against non-Arab Sudanese in the same region 20 years ago. Abakr emphasized, “The security situation is extremely dire.”
International attention can significantly impact the situation. The ERR approach acknowledges that local individuals play a crucial role in humanitarian aid, often carrying out essential tasks either as employees or volunteers. Local aid efforts eliminate the need for costly external management personnel who need to be flown in, accommodated, and compensated. This locally led model, sometimes referred to as decolonized humanitarian aid, is gaining support even from prominent aid organizations, which now boast about collaborating with grassroots NGOs. In conflict zones like Myanmar, where the government views aid as support for insurgents, international organizations operate discreetly to provide lifesaving aid to local groups for distribution.
Despite the important work they do, local aid workers are more vulnerable. They can seek guidance on safety protocols from organizations like the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), based in the Netherlands, which offers security training and coordination in 22 conflict-affected countries. Maintaining safety is crucial, as attacks on major aid agencies can draw attention and deter violence, especially when arms suppliers face scrutiny. Ultimately, the goal is to protect humanitarian workers, whether they are volunteers or employees of international aid organizations.
In Sudan, ERR workers must operate discreetly on the ground and avoid social media exposure. Advocacy from external groups, including high-profile aid organizations and the U.N., can provide protection and recognition for local aid workers. This work exemplifies the moral responsibility that aid groups uphold, demonstrating a genuine commitment to localizing aid efforts.
John Prendergast, a former U.S. National Security Council director for Africa, emphasizes the significance of local efforts in saving lives, calling it the highest form of human expression. Inspired by the Sudanese tradition of nafir, meaning “call to mobilize,” the Emergency Response Networks (ERRs) transcend divisions that have fueled conflict in the country. Ahmed highlights that the service provided by the ERRs goes beyond ethnicity and gender, emphasizing its grassroots nature.
Initially funded by the Sudanese diaspora and local communities, the ERRs operated using personal resources. Almonzer Mohamed Abdelmonim Fadul, a biomedical engineer turned financial officer in Omdurman, recounts funding the initiative from their own pockets. As the mutual-aid groups proved most effective in delivering assistance, they began receiving support from international agencies through secure channels.
While some organizers were involved in past movements, officials stress that the ERR system remains apolitical. Fadul underscores the professionalism and neutrality of their work, which has garnered respect even from the conflicting parties. The ERRs’ commitment to serving the community has earned praise for their grassroots governance model.
Despite challenges faced by Sudan, including displacement and limited international support, the local response networks stand as a beacon of hope. Recognized as essential to Sudan’s future by USAID administrator Samantha Power, these networks embody inclusive and responsive governance. While external aid falls short, Sudanese citizens continue to demonstrate resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.
“You reach a point as a volunteer where, upon hearing one of your teammates calling, you instinctively rush to the scene to assist the injured,” Fadul expresses. “Your own well-being becomes secondary as you prioritize helping others.” Fadul operates in Omdurman, a city situated across the Nile from Khartoum, precisely where the White Nile merges with the Blue Nile. This location has been a site of ongoing conflict, with the echoes of machine gun fire frequently piercing through its streets. Tragically, a bomb took the life of the individual overseeing a communal kitchen just last year.
Each kitchen in this area caters to the needs of 300 to 500 families, while an evacuation center provides refuge for up to 200 individuals. As violence escalates in the capital, Omdurman’s Emergency Response and Recovery team is preparing to expand the capacity of the evacuation center to accommodate the influx of displaced persons. “These regions are extremely volatile,” Fadul notes, “resulting in a continuous flow of people seeking safety.”
*This text contains input from Leslie Dickstein and can be reached at letters@time.com.*
