JUBA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Tuesday said it is making significant progress toward the cantonment and unification of forces due to availability of funds.
Charles Madut Akol, head of the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC) said their work has been supported with two million U.S. dollars which will cater for welfare of soldiers that are already being prepared for screening before assembling in the cantonment areas at various counties.
"Initially we lagged behind due to unavailability of financial resources. However, after release of the two million dollars by National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) JMCC has managed to defuse the notion that the mechanism lacks capacity to fulfill its mission," Akol told journalists in Juba.
He said the peace implementation process has witnessed significant progress, and added that the availability of these funds will help the JMCC to fulfill its role at the levels of the states and counties as provided for under the revitalized peace agreement.
"The work of the cantonment verification assessment teams is progressing very well and will tender a comprehensive report to enable us to move equipment for establishment of temporary shelters and stores for food, and weapon storage," Akol said.
He also said the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) has already provided them with some movable stores in form of containers for storage purposes.
"We are very grateful to the Joint Defense Board (JDB) and the NPTC for their commitment to help us achieve this particular project in time," added Akol.
He disclosed also that CTSAMVM has accepted to help establish the first cantonment model that can be used as an example for the rest of the cantonment sites.
"We are expectant that the project will start immediately after redeployment of the Area Joint Military Ceasefire Committee (AJMCC) and Joint Military Ceasefire Teams (JMCTs)," he said.
South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013 and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.
The UN estimates that about four million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.
