1 October 2013 - UNMISS handed over a police station and office to county authorities today in Mapel, Western Bahr El Ghazal State, fulfilling an agreement to hand over projects to communities in areas where Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) facilities were located.

UNMISS Acting State Coordinator Victor Fasama officially gave the keys to the police station and payam (district) administration office to local government officials.

“I want you all to use this facility as your own,” said Mr. Fasama. “You will keep (it) for generations to come.”

The two buildings were part of four projects selected for construction with mission funding to support the community where the first batch of candidates participated in the DDR programme pilot phase.

Mr. Fasama noted that a market project and catering service would also be handed over to local authorities after construction was completed.

Last month, during a graduation ceremony for about 290 ex-combatants from the DDR pilot programme at Mapel Training Centre, UNMISS Chief Hilde F. Johnson announced the formal hand-over of the four projects to the South Sudanese government.