UNDP, Qatar, Sudan sign funding accord for Darfur

On Thursday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), four Qatari organisations, and the Sudanese Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (DDRC) signed agreements for the re-integration of former rebel combatants and development in Darfur.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Qatar in Khartoum, Rashid Bin Abdelrahman Al Nuaimi.

In his welcoming remarks, the Qatari ambassador reiterated his government’s commitment to realising peace and stability in Darfur, in collaboration with the Sudanese government and the international community, through the implementation of the Darfur Development Strategy.

“The State of Qatar believes in the essential role of development, and building peace and stability,” he said, pointing to the five model villages that were built with Qatari support “to encourage voluntary return of Darfuris”.

The ambassador announced that an additional ten villages will be built in different parts of Darfur.

Lt. Gen. Salah El Tayeb Awad, Commissioner-General of the DDRC expressed his pride that “that we have now passed the critical stages in reintegration in Darfur where 1,600 ex-combatants in phase 1 were reintegrated. We wish to target an additional 1,400 combatants in phase 2, which will total to 3,000 reintegrated ex-combatants. We are also looking forward to working with the Qatari NGOs in these efforts”.

UNDP Resident Coordinator Marta Ruedas hailed “the long and steady partnership which UNDP has with the DDRC that expanded to other areas in development work. Together we can make a difference, and for that purpose we need to have a full range of partnerships similar to the ones we have with the Commission. We need to invest on the new partnership with various stakeholders for the benefit to the Darfur people”.

In addition to the Darfur Community Based Reintegration and Stabilisation Programme, another five contracts were signed with the same Qatari organisations to implement activities under the Strengthening of Land Management for Peaceful Co-Existence in Darfur project.

(Source: Sudan Vision Daily)