Western Sahara
Support for Mine Action
The Territory of Western Sahara receives support for mine action from funds assessed from the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for mine action as part of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) peacekeeping operation, while donors make direct contributions to operators. Since 2008, funding for mine action through MINURSO (US$6,178,450) has accounted for 58% of all mine action funding for Western Sahara. In 2012, peacekeeping-assessed funds for mine action were $2,600,000, an increase of almost 50%.[1] At the same time, in 2012 international assistance declined by 73% with Norway and Switzerland as the sole donors.[2]
Despite the large fluctuations in assessed mine action funds from the UNGA and the decrease in support from international donors, total funding declined by less than 10% in 2012.
International contributions: 2012[3]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK930,000 |
159,846 |
|
Switzerland |
Clearance |
CHF225,000 |
239,949 |
|
Total |
|
|
399,795 |
Summary of international contributions: 2008–2012[4]
|
Year |
Peacekeeping Assessment ($) |
International contributions ($) |
Total contributions ($) |
|
2012 |
2,600,000 |
399,795 |
2,999,795 |
|
2011 |
1,745,300 |
1,469,390 |
3,214,690 |
|
2010 |
914,750 |
1,102,903 |
2,017,653 |
|
2009 |
582,400 |
1,178,150 |
1,760,550 |
|
2008 |
336,000 |
294,520 |
630,520 |
|
Total |
6,178,450 |
4,444,758 |
10,623,208 |
[2] 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 response to Monitor questionnaire by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 22 March 2013.
[3] Average exchange rate for 2012: CHF0.9377=US$1; NOK5.8181=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[4] See ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Western Sahara: Support for Mine Action,” 10 September 2012.