Japan grants $17 million for disarmament programme
January 9, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Japanese government will provide a $17 million grant to a U.N. Development Programme (UNDP)-backed disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme in Sudan, it was announced today.
Japan’s contribution will go towards the $385 million needed to reintegrate some 180,000 ex-combatants into civilian life. Last October, Italy donated $4 million to the initiative.
The grant was signed in Khartoum by Japanese Ambassador to Sudan, Yuichi Ishii, and Ameerah Haq, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative.
“The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme will ensure the fundamentals of peace and stability in Sudan, and pave the way to sustainable development across the country,” said Ambassador Ishii.
Showing commitment to Sudan’s DDR programme, the Government of Italy has also contributed €3 million (about $4.1 million) in October 2008.
Ameerah Haq, who serves as the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative and UNDP Resident Representative, called on donors to follow the lead of Japan and Italy.
“I also urge our partners from the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan, as the leaders and owners of the DDR process, to ensure that state offices are staffed and operational as soon as possible so that the DDR programme becomes effectively nationally-owned and led.”
The UNDP will support the North Sudan DDR Commission and Southern Sudan DDR Commission to set up state offices, equip and train staff at the state level and develop management information systems and monitor as well as evaluation frameworks. The funds will also be used to provide economic reintegration opportunities for ex-combatants, including a significant number of women associated with armed forces and groups as well as disabled ex-combatants.
The North Sudan DDR Commissioner Sulafeldeen Salih thanked Japan for leading the donor community with this contribution. He reiterated government determination to implement a DDR programme saying it “would allow us not only to collect weapons but to help fighters turn themselves into civilians.”
While the Southern Sudan DDR Commissioner William Deng Deng hailed the Japanese grant saying that “DDR is a bridge to peace and development” and this contribution will boost this process and will also support the peace deal implementation.
The DDR programme formed a key part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended the longest civil war in Africa.
It will be operationally managed by the North Sudan and Southern Sudan DDR Commissions with technical and logistical support from UNDP under the overall coordination and oversight of UNMIS.
(ST)