Prominent Institute Nominates Emergency Response Rooms for Nobel Peace Prize

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The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) announced today the nomination of "Emergency Response Rooms" for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The institute stated that awarding this year’s Peace Prize to a deserving humanitarian initiative like the Emergency Rooms would highlight the critical importance of ensuring life-saving aid in times of conflict.

This was revealed in an update shared by PRIO Director Henrik Urdal, which included a list of institutions nominated by the institute for the prestigious 2024 prize. The nominees include the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europes Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Emergency Response Rooms in Sudan, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) with its Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the International Court of Justice, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe.

Regarding the nomination of Sudans Emergency Response Rooms, Henrik Urdal remarked, "The armed conflict that broke out in Sudan in April 2023 has pushed the country into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. More than 10 million people have been internally displaced, while another two million have fled to neighboring countries. The international system has struggled to meet the enormous humanitarian needs, leading local community-driven volunteer aid networks in Sudan to step in and provide life-saving services to millions of women, men, and children. Among the notable initiatives are the Emergency Response Rooms, which deliver medical care and other essential services to those affected by the conflict."

He described the nature of the Emergency Response Rooms, saying, "These groups operate in a decentralized manner, providing critical humanitarian aid in an extremely complex conflict environment with limited access to communities, resources, and infrastructure. Volunteers often work in unsafe areas, facing threats of harassment and violence."

Explaining the importance of awarding the Peace Prize to the Emergency Response Rooms, Urdal stated, "Since 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the revised Geneva Conventions, which were developed to protect civilians during war, awarding this year’s Peace Prize to a deserving humanitarian initiative like the Emergency Response Rooms would highlight the crucial importance of life-saving aid access during conflicts."

It is worth noting that PRIO’s director, Henrik Urdal, has been presenting his independent list for the Nobel Peace Prize annually for over two decades. Although Urdal is not affiliated with the Nobel Institute or the Norwegian Nobel Committee, his opinions are widely recognized.