(Photo:ENA)Addis Abeba-The disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program for 75,000 former combatants in Tigray officially began today, November 21, 2024, the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) announced. Mekelle, one of three designated DDR centers, is set to process 320 combatants within the first week, alongside Edaga Hamus and Adwa, which will also serve as hubs for the program. Temesgen Tilahun, Commissioner of the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC), stated that the identification and disarmament process for over 371,000 former combatants from seven regions has been completed, clearing the way for reintegration efforts. The two-year DDR program has a budget exceeding $760 million, with the first phase in Tigray funded by 1 billion birr from the government and $60 million from international partners. The African Union will oversee the DDR program through its Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mission to ensure compliance and transparency.

Source: Ethiopian News November 21, 2024 12:33 UTC