14 December 2010 – To widen their skills and knowledge as they prepare to re-enter civilian life, some 150 ex-combatants began a three-week reintegration workshop today in the Western Bahr El Ghazal State capital of Wau.

Organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in close collaboration with the Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC), the activity was funded by the Integrated UN DDR Unit.

"You are being transformed from an army of liberation to an army of peace and development," SSDDRC state head Romano Opio Kuot said in his opening remarks.

The ex-combatants, who were first disarmed and demobilized, are expected to strengthen their knowledge and skills in such areas as peace building, environmental awareness, adult literacy and health.

"This training will help you enhance your life skills – to protect yourselves from malaria, HIV/AIDS, ensure your hygiene and sanitation and live in peaceful coexistence with your communities," Mr. Kuot said.

UN Development Programme (UNDP) DDR Programme Specialist Ahmed Jemal said that over 1,000 ex-combatants had been disarmed and demobilized since the DDR launch in the state in October. Currently, the DDR team was demobilizing 80 ex-combatants daily.

Mr. Jemal added that as part of reintegration, the ex-combatants had each chosen to be trained in one of the occupational skills on offer.

"We are working to reintegrate ex-combatants by providing them with four main options -- agriculture, small business, vocational training and education," Mr. Jemal said.

The UNDP specialist said the DDR process was proceeding smoothly, although the DDR team was challenged by lack of transport as well as ex-combatants' low literacy levels and high expectations of the programme.

To date, DDR has been carried out in Central Equatoria, Lakes and Northern Bahr El- Ghazal states and is ongoing in Eastern Equatoria State. The joint DDR team hopes to demobilize 20,000 ex-combatants by 2011 across the region.