Over a dozen community members and activists joined in a 5K at Tempe Beach Park on the evening of April 22, bringing awareness and raising money for those affected by the Sudanese civil war.
The Sudanese American Physicians Association, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides health care in Sudan, hosted a national "Run4Sudan 5K" event across the country.
In Tempe, Sudanese Youth for Change-Arizona hosted the 5K. Heba Saad, the executive director of the organization, said the group invited people to walk or run as an easy way to participate in raising funds and awareness.
The civil war began in April 2023, worsening a pre-existing humanitarian crisis in the country. According to the International Rescue Committee, Sudan now has the largest displacement crisis in the world, with two-thirds of the nation's population in need of humanitarian support.
The run was held on Earth Day to reflect the war's intersection with environmental issues, according to an Instagram post for the event.
Saad expressed concern for the environmental impact of military activity in Sudan and across the globe.
"We can't say that you stand for sustainability and saving the Earth, but then you don't want to get involved in humanitarian efforts or social justice," Saad said.
Proceeds from tickets for the event were donated to the Sudanese American Physicians Association.
"Your money goes toward employing, actually creating jobs in Sudan for those that have been displaced," Saad said. "Those jobs are being used to distribute aid, to fund community kitchens, to fund medical equipment and schools."
Huda Mohamed, a senior studying computer information systems, participated in the 5K.
"I've just been very passionate about communities that stand up for their people and their struggles back home," Mohamed said. "I'm just here to stand with activism."
Mohamed said these types of events are important because they make more of a statement than just seeing something on social media.
"When they see people physically walking for a cause, it brings extra attention to it and they realize how much more important it is," Mohamed said.
Mohamed said while she did not know many details about the conflict in Sudan, "innocent lives being taken away from the world" was enough for her to stand with the cause.
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Mohamed also said war brings negative impacts for the planet and will have long-term consequences.
"It's important to try to maintain the Earth as much as possible," Mohamed said. "When you're constantly destroying it, it's not the best thing for the future generations."
Ahmed Ashmaig, who helped lead the run in Tempe when an event organizer could not attend, said he appreciated how gatherings like the 5K can create communities of people who are in similar situations.
"It's pretty difficult when there's a war going on back home, but there's things that we can show up to like this that can show that we're together and that we have community here," Ashmaig said.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Senna James, Emilio Alvarado, Sophia Braccio and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at msweador@asu.edu and follow @miasweador on X.
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