Myanmar/Burma
Support for Mine Action
In 2012, six donors contributed US$8.5 million to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for mine action, an increase from $674,368 in 2011.[1] Of the $8.5 million, almost $2 million from Denmark, Norway, and the United States (US) was for victim assistance.
Despite the high level of funding, a variety of factors have delayed the start of survey and clearance operations. The government has not yet approved a landmine law, and non-state armed groups have restricted access to mined areas. Additionally, an overall lack of trust in the peace process amongst all groups has made agreements difficult to conclude.[2] As an illustration of the situation, according to The Economist, “the mine-action centre is just a rather dilapidated building without staff or offices.”[3]
International contributions: 2012[4]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
European Union |
Clearance |
€3,500,000 |
4,500,650 |
|
US |
Survey, victim assistance |
$2,178,286 |
2,178,286 |
|
Norway |
Clearance, victim assistance |
NOK5,050,000 |
867,981 |
|
Denmark |
Risk education, victim assistance |
DKK2,500,000 |
431,615 |
|
Luxembourg |
Clearance |
€284,878 |
366,325 |
|
Switzerland |
Risk education |
CHF149,000 |
158,899 |
|
Total |
|
|
8,503,756 |
Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[5]
|
Year |
International contributions ($) |
|
2012 |
8,503,756 |
|
2011 |
674,368 |
|
2010 |
36,393 |
|
2009 |
779,393 |
|
2008 |
1,020,134 |
|
Totals |
11,014,044 |
[1] US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2013,” Washington DC, August 2013; email from Rob Horvath, Manager, Leahy War Victims Fund, USAID, 2 August 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 22 March 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire by Ingunn Vatne, Senior Advisor, Department for Human Rights, Democracy and Humanitarian Assistance, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 11 April 2013; and email from Carolin J. Thielking, European Union Mine Action Focal Point, Division for WMD, Conventional Weapons and Space, European External Action Service, 15 May 2013.
[2] “De-Mining Delayed in Karen, Karenni States,” The Irrawaddy, 12 July 2013.
[3] Hpa-An and Yangon, “Politically explosive: The failure to clear landmines casts doubt on Myanmar’s peace processes,” The Economist, 13 July 2013.
[4] Average exchange rate for 2012: €1=US$1.2859; DKK5.7922=US$1; NOK5.8181=US$1; CHF0.9377=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[5] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Myanmar: Support for Mine Action,” 10 September 2012.