Parallel to the UN-backed disarmament program of the former Afghan combatants commonly known as DDR, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have disarmed nearly 4,000 ex-child soldiers in the post-war nation, the agency's spokesman said Thursday.

The program carried out with the support of community representatives and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was launched last February in northern Afghanistan.

"A total of 3,998 children, all boys, and the majority being aged 14-17 years old have been demobilized in 15 provinces in north, northeast, east and central Afghanistan since the program began in February," Edward Carwardine told reporters here.

UNICEF estimated that there were about 8,000 former child soldiers in Afghanistan with majority of whom were forcibly conscripted by fighting groups and local commanders over the last years of war.

All the demobilized soldiers, the spokesman added would be enrolled in schools or provided with vocational training to enablethem to earn a livelihood and support their families.

"UNICEF now hopes to complete the demobilization program in the provinces of south, west and southeast of the country not covered in 2004," the spokesman noted.

Under the ongoing Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration program (DDR), commenced in last October over 28,000 former combatants have been disarmed.

Source: Xinhua