Japan
Support for Mine Action
In 2012, Japan contributed ¥4,599,974,319 (US$57,629,345) in mine action funding to 21 countries as well as the ICRC, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), and the UN.[1] Japan contributed ¥1,259,459,985 ($15,778,752), representing 27% of its contributions, to Lao PDR: this included ¥886 million ($11.1 million) worth of equipment to the government for use in their mine action programs. Japan also made contributions through the UN Mine Action Service ranging from ¥259 million ($3.2 million) to ¥478 million ($6 million) to Afghanistan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Mozambique, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Japan’s support to the DRC includes funding the national survey that will determine the full extent of the country’s landmine and cluster munition contamination problem. Japan’s only reported support for victim assistance was to the Humpty Dumpty Institute and Project RENEW in Vietnam for their Mushrooms with a Mission livelihood project.
Contributions by recipient: 2012[2]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (¥) |
Amount ($) |
|
Lao PDR |
Clearance |
1,259,459,985 |
15,778,752 |
|
Mali |
Clearance |
478,920,000 |
6,000,000 |
|
South Sudan |
Clearance |
399,100,000 |
5,000,000 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance, risk education |
390,187,299 |
4,888,340 |
|
DRC |
Clearance |
343,103,157 |
4,298,461 |
|
Mozambique |
Clearance |
341,832,981 |
4,282,548 |
|
Somalia |
Clearance |
319,280,000 |
4,000,000 |
|
Cambodia |
Clearance |
259,790,633 |
3,254,706 |
|
Libya |
Clearance |
145,859,875 |
1,827,360 |
|
Angola |
Clearance |
134,029,993 |
1,679,153 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Clearance |
127,558,347 |
1,598,075 |
|
Georgia |
Clearance |
78,696,214 |
985,921 |
|
Zimbabwe |
Clearance |
68,976,692 |
864,153 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Clearance |
66,793,855 |
836,806 |
|
Palau |
Clearance |
59,855,980 |
749,887 |
|
ICRC |
Clearance |
26,606,720 |
333,334 |
|
Colombia |
Various |
23,637,416 |
296,134 |
|
Tajikistan |
Clearance |
19,010,969 |
238,173 |
|
Lebanon |
Clearance |
16,185,900 |
202,780 |
|
Vietnam |
Victim assistance |
9,812,752 |
122,936 |
|
Mauritania |
Clearance |
15,759,980 |
197,444 |
|
UNMAS |
Various |
7,207,746 |
90,300 |
|
Solomon Islands |
Clearance |
5,115,025 |
64,082 |
|
GICHD |
Various |
3,192,800 |
40,000 |
|
|
|
4,599,974,319 |
57,629,345 |
From 2008–2012, Japan’s contributions have ranged from ¥3.4 billion to ¥5.3 billion. The role the exchange rate plays with Japan’s contribution is well illustrated when comparing the years 2008 and 2012.
Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[3]
|
Year |
Amount (¥) |
Amount ($) |
|
2012 |
4,599,974,319 |
57,629,345 |
|
2011 |
3,425,586,258 |
42,981,007 |
|
2010 |
4,110,662,879 |
46,829,151 |
|
2009 |
4,502,340,000 |
48,060,845 |
|
2008 |
5,318,480,480 |
51,440,956 |
|
Total |
21,957,043,936 |
246,941,304 |
[1] Average exchange rate for 2012: ¥79.82=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[2] Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, 28 March 2013; and Danish Church Aid, “Japan grant for Lebanon ensures purchase of equipment,” 3 September 2012.
[3] See Landmine Monitor reports 2008–2011; and ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Japan: Support for Mine Action,” 19 September 2012.