04 August 2006 — (Juba) — An official at the southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission says the DDR exercise will focus mainly on children, women and the elderly in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

Speaking to press in Juba last week, Colonel Alex Scopas said the commission will help those demobilized to reintegrate into communities in Southern Sudan.  The official also said that plans are underway to establish a special project for those who cannot serve in the army due to disabilities.

[Alex Scopas]: “Generally, we will be disarming the army but then we have made in target groups, one of it is the child soldiers, of course you know that international law any child under the age of 18 is supposed to be demobilized from the army. The other target group is women are affected by the war first, during this war women have contributed. The third one is the disabled those who sustained disability during the war. The fourth one is the elderly persons who are to be demobilized and reintegrated into the society.”

Colonel Scopas appealed to international organizations to help fund the DDR exercise in southern Sudan.