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Lao PDR
Support for Mine Action
In 2012, 12 donors contributed more than US$41.2 million to support mine action in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), compared to 12 donors and $21.5 million in 2011. The $20 million rise in funding is largely the result of increases of $15 million from Japan, $4 million from the United States (US), and a multi-year €4.6 million/$5.9 million contribution from the European Union (EU). The contribution from Japan included ¥886 million/$11 million to the Lao PDR government for equipment.[1]
Australia, the EU, Japan, Norway, and the US together provided 86% of all international funding in 2012. Of the $41.2 million, $1 million went towards victim assistance and $1.35 million supported risk education.
The purpose of the EU mine action program is to support the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) agenda of Lao PDR focusing on the newly defined local MDG objective to reduce the long-term negative impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on development in rural communities. The EU program issued its first call for proposals in September 2012 for €2.6 million/$3.3 million.[2]
Australia, Finland, and the US provided $1.28 million for victim assistance to international NGOs and the ICRC. Victim assistance funding included both rehabilitation and livelihood projects.[3]
In 2012, Canada halted its mine action assistance to Lao PDR that began in 1996. According to a Canadian media report, the Lao government has asked Canada to resume its funding, but reportedly has not received a reply.[4]
International contributions: 2012[5]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥1,259,459,985 |
15,778,752 |
|
US |
Clearance, victim assistance, risk education |
$9,233,333 |
9,233,333 |
|
EU |
Clearance |
€4,600,000 |
5,915,140 |
|
Australia |
Clearance, victim assistance |
A$2,101,566 |
2,177,012 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK12,500,000 |
2,148,468 |
|
Germany |
Clearance, victim assistance |
€1,309,350 |
1,683,693 |
|
United Kingdom |
Clearance |
£919,120 |
1,457,081 |
|
Switzerland |
Clearance |
CHF936,000 |
998,187 |
|
Ireland |
Clearance |
€500,000 |
642,950 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance |
€435,738 |
560,315 |
|
New Zealand |
Clearance |
NZ$568,553 |
460,812 |
|
Finland |
Victim assistance |
€125,000 |
160,738 |
|
Total |
|
|
41,216,481 |
Summary of international contributions: 2008–2012[6]
|
Year |
Amount ($) |
|
2012 |
41,216,481 |
|
2011 |
21,574,935 |
|
2010 |
20,800,862 |
|
2009 |
11,007,262 |
|
2008 |
12,745,518 |
|
Total |
107,345,058 |
[1] Email from Carolin J. Thielking, EU Mine Action Focal Point, Division for WMD, Conventional Weapons and Space, European External Action Service, 15 May 2013; Germany, Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), Amended Protocol II, Form B, 22 March 2013; Australia, CCW, Amended Protocol II, Form B, 28 March 2013; Japan, CCW, Amended Protocol II, 3 April 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire from Fabienne Moust, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands, 19 March 2013; Ireland, CCW, Amended Protocol II, Form B, 22 March 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire from Helena Vuokko, Desk Officer, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 2 April 2013; New Zealand, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 22 March 2013; Sweden, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 27 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; response to Monitor questionnaire by Richard Bolden, Policy Analyst Mine Action, Arms Exports and ATT, Department for International Development (DfID), 7 May 2013; and US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2013.”
[2] EU, “Support for the National Strategic Plan for UXO as part of sustainable development in the uplands of Lao PDR,” 24 September 2012.
[3] Australia, Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Amended Protocol II, Form B, 28 March 2013; response to Monitor questionnaire from Helena Vuokko, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 2 April 2013; and US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2013.”
[4] Mike Blanchfield, “Learning the ABCs of cluster bombs in Laos,” The Canadian Press, 25 June 2013.
[5] Average exchange rate for 2012: A$1=US$1.0359; €1=US$1.2859; ¥79.82=US$1; NOK5.8181=US$1; £1=US$1.5853; SEK6.7721=US$1; CHF0.9377=US$1; NZ$1=US$0.8105. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[6] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Lao PDR: Support for Mine Action,” 19 September 2012.
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