Some 640 Ex-combatants successfully reintegrated into Society in Tigray Region

Addis Ababa December 3/2024 (ENA) some 640 former combatants in the Tigray region have concluded training and reintegrated into the society, according to the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC).

The Commission announced on 21st November 2024 that disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program for 75,000 former combatants in Tigray Region officially began in the presence of senior officials from the Federal Government of Ethiopia, the Tigray Regional Interim Administration, and representatives from international organizations.

 

Having handed over weapons the combatants took training and reintegrated to the society, it was learned.

Demobilization Director at the National Rehabilitation Commission, Lieutenant colonel Gosaye Tilahun said that some 640 combatants from the training centers of Mekelle and Idaga Hamus have now reintegrated into the society.

The remaining of the 1,360 total demobilized trainees will reintegrate into the society next, he added.

“To date, the total numbers of ex-combatants who went through the process and reintegrated into the society are 640. They have gone through rehabilitation training and reintegrated to the society.

This is what we have done so far while 1,360 former combatants are still going through the process. We will continue reintegrating them into the society in the coming days starting from tomorrow,” he explained.

According to him, the NRC is working on improving the admission capacity of the training centers in order to succeed the commission’s plan.

“In compliance with the principles of DDR, we are prioritizing on demobilizing the wounded and women by going to where they are. Rehabilitation training has been prepared for this and they are taking it. Therefore, the difference in a former combatant before and after the rehabilitation training is visible and it is indicative that the process would allow them to become a force of development and peace,” he emphasized.

The disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of a total of 371,000 former combatants in seven regions will be carried out in two years.

To this end, in the first and second phase, some 75, 000 and 100,000 former combatants respectively will go through the process while 150,000 and 46,000 will follow in the third and fourth phase.

For Director Gosaye, this ambitious plan requires adequate resources and financial support from partners and stakeholders.

“It (DDR) requires a huge amount of finance and cannot be covered by the commission alone; rather seeks the support of various stakeholders towards its positive impact. Thus far, we have attained the finance to cover for the training and reintegration of 75,000 former combatants. 

However, it requires a huge amount of finance to continue and I urge those who are contributing to continue and others to be on board,” he stated.