The World Bank has granted Rwanda $8m in assistance for the second phase of the demobilisation and reintegration program.

The grant which will support the government’s efforts to demobilise members of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), as well as armed groups of Rwandan origin operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was approved yesterday by the Board of Executive Directors.

According to Marcelo Jorge Fabre, WB task team leader for the Project, the funding will mainly target provision of support to female, child, and disabled ex-combatants.

The program seeks to help a maximum of 5,500 former rebel combatants, including approximately 500 child soldiers over a period of two years or less.

"The decision was taken because of the pressing need to maintain the necessary services for the demobilization and reintegration of members of these armed groups returning to the country in the wake of the on-going diplomatic and security efforts,” said Fabre.

The project will provide assistance in accordance with past practices to assure consistency and equal treatment of all the demobilized with basic support and rehabilitation services.

Last year, the multi-country Demobilization Reintegration Program (DRP) provided support for the demobilization of nearly 300,000 combatants in the Great Lakes Region.

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