AFGHANISTAN: MORE ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS DISBANDED WITH UN HELP

AFGHANISTAN: MORE ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS DISBANDED WITH UN HELP New York, Jul 24 2008 10:00AM A campaign to disband illegal armed groups – that has already seen more than 40,000 weapons handed in – is to be extended to 12 more districts in Afghanistan, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The drive is already taking place in 70 districts around the country and is aimed at eradicating the influence of illegal armed groups to pave the way for the consolidation of peace, the rule of law and prosperity in Afghanistan.

As part of the process, as many as 342 illegal armed groups have been disbanded and 44 development projects are either under way or in the planning stages.

UNDP said today that ex-commanders and government officials could demonstrate their support for peacebuilding efforts in the country by voluntarily surrendering their weapons and by disbanding or severing links with armed groups.

Launched in 2005, the drive has seen 40,571 weapons, as well as 33,079 pieces of boxed and unboxed ammunition, handed over and verified by collection teams in Afghanistan.
2008-07-24 00:00:00.000

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