The National Rehabilitation Commission has been carrying out activities that enable it to reintegrate 75,000 ex-combatants across the country by the end of 2023, the commissioner disclosed today.
A one-day consultative meeting organized with the view to discussing about the role of the media in implementing the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program opened this morning. Opening the consultative meeting, National Rehabilitation Commissioner Teshome Toga said the meeting would explain the activities of the commission and future cooperation with the media.
"We called this meeting because we want the media houses to work on awareness creation and advocacy about the DDR program and its significance to the country."
The commission is working to reintegrate 75,000 ex-combatants in 2023, of which 50,000 are found in Tigray region.
“We are preparing camps, training materials, and mobilizing resources. Considering our capacity, we have decided to begin by reintegrating 75,000 ex-combatants. We will start this task by completing the ongoing preparation soon, and we intend to complete it (the reintegration) by the year 2023.”
According to Teshome, 371,971 ex-combatants have been identified thus far and the budget needed could exceed the initial estimated 554 million USD.
As the government is doing its level best to undertake the task of reintegrating the ex-combatants, all concerned domestic and foreign actors and partners ought to play their respective role, he noted, adding that the finance needed to implement the program is huge.
“DDR activities need the support of all actors because they require huge finance. We have national priorities and all partners should play their role because Ethiopia’s peace, security and development are crucial for all,” the commissioner underscored.
It was pointed out on the occasion that the commission plays mainly the role of coordination and the success of the program largely hinges on supports from the government and all concerned actors.
The commission has engaged with officials in 8 regions of the country to implement the DDR program.
Moreover, the commission has been discussing and working in cooperation with several countries and institutions to mobilize resources for the implementation of the DDR program, it was learned.
But there was no significant financial support despite commitments so far, according to the commissioner.
The commission is expected to implement the DDR in two years, with a possibility of extention by the House of People's Representatives.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency