US gives US$ 50 million for former combatants

The United States government has said that it has earmarked about US$ 50 million to assist former Liberian combatants and communities as part of the country's disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme (DDRR). US Ambassador to Liberia John Blaney made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday at the US Embassy in the capital Monrovia. The decision is part of a new initiative by his government to contribute to the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts of the country's DDRR program, he said. “The largest new programme is the community infrastructure programme. It is a voluntary opportunity for the thousands of ex-combatants that will be run by Development Alternatives Incorporated, our contractor,” Blaney said. “The concept is akin to the 1930 Civilian Conservation Corps of the United States. Employees of the program will rehabilitate roads, schools and other public infrastructure while receiving skills training,” Blaney explained. The Civilian Conservation Corps was set up in the years of the great depression and mobilised three million unemployed young men to carry out public works programmes. Blaney also revealed that there would be educational components to the US$ 28 million programme in Liberia. “The special needs of child and women soldiers are also very much in mind, and our second new program is called the women and children's Rehabilitation and Reintegration program. Here too will also be vocational training and much more. We have allocated US$ 15 million here,” he added. Ambassador Blaney, flanked by senior staff from his embassy, said this assistance would be made available subject to continued progress in restoring stability to Liberia. Commenting on the DDRR implementation, Blaney warned against any acts that might upset the peace process. “For anyone who would sacrifice peace and the well being of Liberians, including ex-combatants, for their own selfish gains, by throwing up artificial obstacles to the DDRR, let me also give fair warning. This will not be tolerated.” In February, UN special representative to Liberia Jacques Klein, said that the full contingent of 15,000 UN peacekeeping forces would be on the ground by latest, mid March. As the end of March approaches, less than 14,000 troops have been deployed and some areas of the Liberian countryside have yet to be secured by peacekeeping forces.