At the launch of the DDR programme in Ed-Damazin on February 10, 15 ex-combatants from the North and the South symbolically handed over their weapons, registered and received a DDR ID card, cash, non-food items and coupons for WFP food rations.
Women were also among the ex-combatans that started their return back to civilian life at the DDR-launch.
Photo: ©2009 Johann Hattingh/UNMIS
The DDR programme is a national led process, supported by two commissions representing the North and the South. UN and several donor countries provide technical and material support, capacity building and funding.
DDR was agreed under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 to end the 21 year long conflict between North and South Sudan.
The total budget for the four year long program is 430 million USD. Most of these funds are requested from international donors. At the launch in Ed-Damazin, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG), Ameerah Haq, urged the international community to support the comprehensive DDR programme in Sudan. At a Round Table Conference held in Juba on February 16, Norwegian Ambassador Mr. Svein Sevje, announced Norway’s 25 million NOK contribution to the programme. Japan, UK, Canada, Italy and Sweden also announced their support and funding to the DDR-process at the conference.