Lao PDR
Support for Mine Action
Support for Mine Action
In 2011, 12 donors contributed more than US$21.5 million to support mine action in Lao PDR,[1] compared to 13 donors and $20.8 million in 2010.[2] Australia and the United States (US) together provided almost half (46%) of all international funding in 2011. Of the $21.5 million, $1 million went towards victim assistance and $1.35 million supported risk education.
In 2011, the government of Lao PDR reported a contribution of LAK250 million (US$30,888) to the mine action program.[3] This is the first-ever reported Lao PDR contribution.
In June 2012, the US announced it had increased its support to Lao PDR from $5 million in 2011 to $9 million in 2012 and earlier in the year Norway announced a commitment of $20 million over five years.[4]
International contributions in 2011[5]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount (US$) |
|
US |
Clearance, victim assistance, risk education |
$5,000,000 |
5,000,000 |
|
Australia |
Clearance, victim assistance, risk education |
A$4,623,035 |
4,776,520 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK12,800,000 |
2,284,817 |
|
Switzerland |
Clearance |
CHF1,910,000 |
2,155,270 |
|
Japan |
Clearance, risk education |
¥171025759 |
2,145,869 |
|
Germany |
Clearance, victim assistance |
€1,373,235 |
1,913,054 |
|
UK |
Clearance |
£813,251 |
1,304,699 |
|
New Zealand |
Clearance |
NZ$1,100,000 |
871,200 |
|
Ireland |
Clearance |
€500,000 |
696,550 |
|
Luxembourg |
Risk education |
€156,480 |
217,992 |
|
Austria |
Clearance |
€100,000 |
139,310 |
|
Belgium |
Clearance |
€50,000 |
69,655 |
|
Total |
21,574,936 |
Summary of international contributions in 2007–2011[6]
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
21,574,936 |
|
2010 |
20,800,862 |
|
2009 |
11,007,262 |
|
2008 |
12,745,518 |
|
2007 |
12,241,635 |
|
Total |
78,370,213 |
[1] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Christine Pahlman, Mine Action Coordinator, AusAID, 24 April 2012; and by Wolfgang Bányai, Unit for Arms Control and Disarmament in the framework of the UN, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria, 1 March 2012; Belgium Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2012; Response to Monitor questionnaire by Lt.-Col. Klaus Koppetsch, Desk Officer Mine Action, German Federal Foreign Office, 20 April 2012; Ireland Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2012; Japan Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 12 May 2012; Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg, 15 March 2012; New Zealand Convention on Conventional Weapons, Form B, 16 April 2012; Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Ingunn Vatne, Senior Advisor, Department for Human Rights, Democracy and Humanitarian Assistance, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 15 March 2012; by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 19 June 2012; and by Hannah Binci, Security and Justice Team, Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department, DfID, 9 May 2012; and US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2011,” Washington, DC, July 2012.
[2] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Lao PDR: Support for Mine Action,” 31 August 2011.
[3] Cluster Munitions Convention Article 7 Report, Form I, 22 March 2012. Exchange rate: LAK8,093.758 = US$1, US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2012.
[4] Legacies of War, “U.S. and Other Donor Countries Announce Increased Funding for UXO Removal in Laos,” 7 June 2012.
[5] Exchange rates for 2011: A$1=US$1.0332; €1 = US$1.3931; ¥79.7 = US$1; NZ$0.792 = US$1; NOK5.6022 = US$1; CHF0.8862 = US$1; £1 = US$1.6043. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2012.
[6] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Lao PDR: Support for Mine Action,” 31 August 2011.