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Australia

Last Updated: 22 November 2013

Support for Mine Action

In 2012, the Commonwealth of Australia contributed A$23,159,725 (US$23,991,159)[1] in mine action funding to 11 states, the ICRC, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The largest contributions went to Afghanistan and the ICRC.

Australia’s mine action funding is based on their 2010–2014 Mine Action Strategy. Australia focuses its assistance on the Asia-Pacific region, where it allocated almost 50% of its funding in 2012. However, it has also made significant contributions to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Mozambique.

Contributions by recipient: 2012[2]

Recipient

Sector

Amount (A$)

Amount (US$)

Afghanistan

Various

5,000,000

5,179,500

ICRC

Clearance, victim assistance

3,750,000

3,884,625

Global

Various

2,891,447

2,995,250

Lao PDR

Clearance, victim assistance

2,101,566

2,177,012

Mozambique

Clearance, victim assistance

1,703,813

1,764,980

Iraq

Clearance

1,500,000

1,553,850

Jordan

Clearance

1,500,000

1,553,850

Palau

Clearance

1,350,544

1,399,029

Cambodia

Victim assistance

1,325,000

1,372,568

Lebanon

Clearance

897,355

929,570

Sri Lanka

Clearance

840,000

870,156

Vietnam

Victim assistance

250,000

258,975

Azerbaijan

Victim assistance

50,000

51,795

Total

 

23,159,725

23,991,159

Australia continued to be one of the major donors to victim assistance projects. In 2012, it contributed 12% of its support A$2,700,992 (US$2,797,958) to victim assistance in Afghanistan, Cambodia, ICRC, Lao PDR, Mozambique, and Vietnam.

The Australian aid program, guided by a disability-inclusive 2009–2014 development strategy, Development for All, also provides approximately $10 million per year to programs that impact the lives of persons with disabilities. It is intended to benefit landmine and cluster munition victims, their families, and communities.[3]

Contributions by thematic sector: 2012

Sector

Amount (A$)

Amount (US$)

% of total contribution

Clearance

11,580,286

11,996,018

50

Various

7,891,447

8,174,750

34

Victim assistance

2,700,992

2,797,958

12

Advocacy

987,000

1,022,433

4

Total

23,159,725

23,991,159

100

Although Australia contributed 48% less in 2012 than in 2011, it remained at similar funding levels as other years. Future funding commitments are dependent on their post-2014 mine action strategy.

Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[4]

Year

Amount (A$)

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year ($)

2012

23,159,725

23,991,159

-48

2011

44,238,832

45,707,561

87

2010

26,570,740

24,445,081

26

2009

24,451,706

19,382,870

7

2008

21,263,137

18,152,340

9

Total

139,684,140

131,679,011

N/A

 

 



[1] Average exchange rate for 2012: A$1=US$1.0359. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.

[2] Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Protocol II, Form B, 28 March 2013.

[3] International Support Unit,Assistance for Victim Assistance: Financial Assistance, Australia,” AP Mine Convention website, accessed 25 July 2013.

[4] See Landmine Monitor reports 2008–2011; and ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Australia: Support for Mine Action,” 10 September 2013.