Bujumbura — The National Programme in charge of the demobilization and reintegration of combatants plans to build 400 houses for soldiers who were handicapped during the war that ravaged Burundi over the last decade.

This was announced by the Executive secretary of this programme, Brigadier General Silas Ntigurirwa, during a conference that he held today. He said that the military hospital and the centre for the handicapped of Gitega will be renewed and equipped with other materials very soon.

This programme, to which more than 55 thousand combatants were presented for demobilisation, has already demobilised more than 23 thousand former fighters. This programme, which might put an end to its activities in 2008, will be extended with the implementation of the peace deal between FNL-PALIPEHUTU and the government of Burundi.

The funding for this programme was granted by the World Bank after long and serious negotiations aimed at ensuring that formal combatants would not return to rebel groups. The recent dissidents who walked away from FNL-PALIPEHUTU may not have been demobilised.