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The United Nations says it will fund pilot projects for marketable skills training of Liberia's civil war veterans, the UNs Office in Liberia told IRIN on Wednesday.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Liberia, Felix Downes-Thomas, said the projects would also provide income generating jobs to help sustain the veterans.
At this stage, it is not possible to give an accurate number of people who will benefit from the projects. However, Downes-Thomas said he hoped the programme would be expanded later have spin-off benefits for more veterans. The male veterans could be given such skills as logging and carpentry. Young female veterans could be housed and fed in hostels while learning skills such as tailoring. The final package of the type of
projects that will be funded is due to be planned by UNOL and the veteran associations.
"The veteran associations are due to come back to me on the type of project beneficial to them," Downes-Thomas said.
In mid-1999, hundreds of former fighters stormed the UN office in Monrovia demanding money for reintegration into society. At the time that was not possible, Downes-Thomas said, but then promised the veterans he would look for money to start some pilot projects.
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