Solomon Islands
Support for Mine Action
The Solomon Islands are contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO) dating from World War II. In 2011, the United States (US) provided US$400,000 to the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation to train the Solomon Islands Police’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) section to EOD Level 2 and to conduct any necessary clearance in preparation for establishing the section’s headquarters on Guadalcanal.[1]
In 2012, the US supported the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation with $556,667 to continue providing Level 2 EOD training and technical oversight to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force’s EOD team on Guadalcanal. Additionally, in 2012 the US Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program began an operational field evaluation of the Badger armored excavator with the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation. The Badger provides access to EOD teams to locate and clear UXO and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO) at Hells Point, where the contamination has endangered local populations and destroyed fishing grounds. The Badger cleared 305,000m2 of dense jungle vegetation in difficult terrain and found 602 items of UXO and AXO.[2]
Japan contributed ¥5.1 million ($64,082) through the Japan Mine Action Service.
International contributions: 2012[3]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
US |
Clearance |
$556,667 |
556,667 |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥5,115,025 |
64,082 |
|
Total |
|
|
620,749 |
[1] US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2012,” Washington DC, July 2012.
[2] US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2013,” Washington DC, August 2013, p. 24; and Japan, Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Amended Protocol II, 28 March 2013.
[3] Ibid. Average exchange rate for 2012: ¥79.82=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.