Belgium
Support for Mine Action
In 2011, Belgium contributed €5,843,386 (US$8,140,422) in mine action funding to 12 states and other areas, the Geneva International Centre for Demining, and the ICRC.[1] As in 2010, Belgium’s largest contribution went to the ICRC (€2 million/$2,786,200). Belgium’s contribution in 2011 decreased in equivalent dollar terms by 35% compared to its contribution in 2010 and was its lowest since 2006.
Belgium provided funding to the Geneva Call in the Philippines in support of engaging non-state actors in the universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. In addition, Belgium provided financial support to a variety of research projects. Since 1997, it has funded APOPO in support of the use of rats in mine detection. The Ministry of Defense and the Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs have funded the PARADIS project, which studies the use of satellite imagery in demining. Belgium also supports research through the Centre Europeen de Normalisation to define new standards for characterizing soil in electromagnetic mine detection sensors.[2]
Contributions by recipient: 2011[3]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
|
ICRC |
VA |
2,000,000 |
2,786,200 |
|
Mozambique |
Clearance |
1,191,927 |
1,660,474 |
|
Angola |
Clearance |
600,000 |
835,860 |
|
DRC |
Clearance, Risk Education |
550,000 |
766,205 |
|
GICHD |
Advocacy |
300,000 |
417,930 |
|
Colombia |
Risk Education |
300,000 |
417,930 |
|
Iraq |
Clearance |
240,000 |
334,344 |
|
Cambodia |
Clearance |
214,360 |
298,625 |
|
Handicap International, ICBL, UNDP |
Advocacy |
175,000 |
243,793 |
|
Jordan |
Clearance |
106,972 |
149,023 |
|
Somaliland |
Clearance |
90,000 |
125,379 |
|
Lao PDR |
Clearance |
50,000 |
69,655 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance |
10,000 |
13,931 |
|
Philippines |
Clearance |
8,250 |
11,493 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Clearance |
6,877 |
9,580 |
|
Totals |
5,843,386 |
8,140,422 |
Belgium contributed just over half of its support to clearance while its contributions to advocacy included €50,000 (US$69,655) for support to the Second Meeting of States Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Beirut in September 2011.
Contributions by thematic sector: 2011
|
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
% of funding |
|
Clearance |
3,058,386 |
4,260,638 |
52.34 |
|
Victim assistance |
2,000,000 |
2,786,200 |
34.23 |
|
Advocacy |
475,000 |
661,723 |
8.13 |
|
Risk education |
310,000 |
431,861 |
5.30 |
|
Totals |
5,843,386 |
8,140,422 |
100 |
In 2007–2011 Belgium’s contribution for mine action totaled €37.3 million ($51.8 million), with an average annual contribution of some €7.46 million (almost $10.4 million).
Summary of contributions: 2007–2011[4]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
|
2011 |
5,843,386 |
8,140,422 |
|
2010 |
9,006,972 |
11,944,150 |
|
2009 |
7,444,646 |
10,374,110 |
|
2008 |
7,145,951 |
10,523,130 |
|
2007 |
7,881,710 |
10,806,610 |
|
Totals |
37,322,665 |
51,788,422 |
[1] Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form E, 31 March 2012.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Average exchange rate for 2011: €1 = US$1.3931. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2012.
[4] See previous editions of Landmine Monitor; and ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Belgium: Support for Mine Action,” www.the-monitor.org, 11 August 2011. Amounts in US$ have been rounded up or down to the nearest ten. Average exchange rate for 2011: €1=US$1.3931; 2010: €1=US$1.3261; 2009: €1=US$ 1.3935; 2008: €1=US$1.4726; and 2007: €1=US$1.3711. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2012.