Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contributions her Department has made to rehabilitating former combatants in the civil war in Sierra Leone; and if she will make a statement.

DFID support to the re-integration of former combatants from Sierra Leone took place in two ways. In the first phase 1999 to 2001/02, DFID made contributions to the World Bank managed Multi Donor Trust Fund. Along with other donors, DFID funds were specifically targeted at re-integration activities, including vocational and skills training, medical assistance, psychosocial support and a re-integration allowance of US$300 per individual. By the time the DDR Trust Fund had ended, it was estimated that over 70,000 ex-combatants had benefitted from the Trust Fund.

From 2002 to 2006, DFID implemented a Reintegration and Rehabilitation Programme in Sierra Leone that focused specifically on rebuilding communities and re-integrating ex-combatants into society, through a community based approach.