by Joshua Curtis
Daily Lobo
UNM law professor Jennifer Moore said she is doing what she can to help people affected by genocide, and that includes running for Darfur in the Duke City Marathon.
Students and faculty members from UNM's law school participated in the marathon Sunday to raise money and awareness about the genocide in Darfur, a region of Sudan.
The women's team took first place in the women's relay category, and one of the four men's teams placed fourth. There were seven teams and a solo runner from the law school.
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Close to half a million people have died in Darfur, and the best estimate of how many have been exiled is 2.5 million, Moore said. They are fleeing to Chad and taking refuge in camps, where they are attacked by the Janjaweed militia, she said.
"We can push our government; we can call for more U.N. action; and we should do all those things," she said. "But it is also important that we try to alleviate some suffering."
The money is being raised for the Genocide Intervention
Network.
The genocide network is a nonprofit organization that educates people about genocide, lobbies the government to stop it and gives supplies to people working in refugee camps, she said.
Moore said the goal of the run was to help focus attention on women's suffering and the rapes that are happening during the genocide.
"One of their main goals is to provide unarmed guards to women leaving camps to gather firewood. They get attacked in proximity of camp," she said. "Our impetus is that we want to stop this outrage against human dignity but also alleviate the suffering of individuals."
The money was raised from the sale of "Run for Darfur" T-shirts, and the proceeds go to the genocide network, said Kristophe Houghton, a law school student. Adds Corporation donated the shirts, he said.
Houghton raised about $1,000 selling shirts, he said.
Moore estimated $500 to $1,000 was raised from the race, and $1,000 from other seminars and meetings around campus.
Moore said it is hard to keep track of the profits, because many donate directly to the Web site.
Houghton said he is training for the Olympic trials. Running for Darfur seemed like a good way to raise money and prepare for the trials, he said.
"Most of the deaths are from starvation and disease in the refugee camps. The network helps them make the camps more sanitary," he said. "We help fund the African Union peacekeepers, who accompany the women so they don't get raped."
Genocide is not a new issue in Darfur, but something needs to be done soon, Houghton said.
"The crisis is worsening every month, because the camps are being inundated by more refugees. The militia is starting to attack the humanitarian groups, and they are pulling out," he said. "It is a really important time to get involved so it doesn't get worse."
