Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants resumed in Rumbek, Lakes State on 23 March, helping former soldiers return to civilian life.

The first group of disarmed ex-combatants spent the day going through the first steps of the demobilization and reintegration process, including verification of the participants' identities, collation of disarmament data, medical examination, issuing of identity cards and counselling.

Ex-combatants also received information on the reintegration stage that would follow, and were given cash to support them reintegrate into civilian life, and a bag of everyday household items including a jerry can, utensils, two blankets, a mat, a torch, a radio, a mosquito net and kitchen sets.

Speaking at the event, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Reintegration Specialist Kathrin Nutt told participants about the selected vocational and small business training they would receive from GTZ to help them find employment during the three-month DDR process.

Thirty-six-year-old former private Deborah Anek Maker said she was looking forward to the reintegration stage when she would put her money towards an agricultural business.

The programme targets above 3,700 people affiliated with the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the state. Over 1,000 ex-combatants have been demobilized to date since the Southern Sudan DDR Commission and the Integrated UN DDR unit launched the programme in Rumbek in October 2009.

DDR is expected to take up to three months to complete, with the Rumbek site processing a caseload of 50 participants per day.

A total of more than 21,500 former combatants have been demobilized in Damazin, Juba, Julud, Kadugli and Rumbek since the programme's start in February, 2009. About 13,000 demobilized ex-combatants have already received counselling on work opportunities as part of the reintegration phase.