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Lebanon
Support for Mine Action
In 2012, contributions from 15 international donors for clearance and victim assistance, risk education (RE), and advocacy activities in Lebanon totaled US$17.3 million.[1] Norway, the European Union (EU), Iran (through the Iranian organization Immen Sazan Omran Pars, ISOP), the United States (US), and the Netherlands all provided over $2 million.[2] With 15 donors, Lebanon ranked second after Afghanistan (19) in 2012 for the number of donors supporting mine action in one country.
In September 2012, the EU in Lebanon issued a tender valued at €10 million ($12.9 million) for 2013–2015 covering landmine and cluster munition clearance as well as victim assistance and RE.[3]
In 2012, the Ministry of Defense of Lebanon supported the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) with personnel, vehicles, communications, and medical care valued at $8.9 million.[4] Other government support has not been reported. The Ministry of Health provides medical care to survivors, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides rehabilitation services, and the Ministry of Education supports RE through its trained health and teaching personnel.[5]
In May 2010, LMAC entered into a strategic partnership with Blom Bank, the largest bank in Lebanon, whereby a percentage of the cardholders’ annual fees and retailers’ transaction fees related to the Blom Bank MasterCard goes to the Ministry of Defense for mine clearance. A committee within the Ministry of Defense is responsible for awarding contracts using the funds from Blom Bank. As of May 2012, more than $376,000 had been raised, including $209,000 in 2011 for clearance and equipment. Blom Bank also funded a $1 million nationwide RE campaign and produced television advertisements promoting the special credit card.[6]
International contributions: 2012[7]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
US |
Clearance |
$2,524,471 |
2,524,471 |
|
Iran |
Clearance |
$2,520,000 |
2,520,000 |
|
EU |
Clearance |
€1,900,000 |
2,443,210 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK14,000,000 |
2,406,284 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance |
€1,576,369 |
2,027,053 |
|
Germany |
Clearance |
€1,216,072 |
1,563,747 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Clearance |
$1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
|
Australia |
Clearance |
A$897,355 |
929,570 |
|
Belgium |
Clearance |
€709,397 |
912,214 |
|
Italy |
Clearance |
€349,949 |
449,999 |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥16,185,900 |
202,780 |
|
Switzerland |
Clearance |
CHF189,925 |
202,543 |
|
Spain |
Clearance |
€69,853 |
89,824 |
|
Austria |
Victim assistance |
€40,000 |
51,436 |
|
South Korea |
Clearance |
$50,000 |
50,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
17,373,131 |
Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[8]
|
Year |
National contributions ($) |
International contributions ($) |
Total budget ($) |
|
2012 |
8,900,000 |
17,373,131 |
26,273,131 |
|
2011 |
6,500,000 |
11,136,306 |
17,636,306 |
|
2010 |
6,500,000 |
20,870,842 |
27,370,842 |
|
2009 |
6,500,000 |
21,210,204 |
27,710,204 |
|
2008 |
5,500,000 |
27,768,536 |
33,268,536 |
|
Total |
33,900,000 |
98,359,019 |
132,259,019 |
[1] Australia, Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), Amended Protocol II, Form B, 28 March 2013;
Germany, CCW, Amended Protocol II, Form B, 22 March 2013; ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2012, Slovenia, 2013, p. 36; response to Monitor questionnaire from Fabienne Moust, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 19 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; Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC), 2012 Annual Report Lebanon Mine Action Center, Beirut, March 2013, pp. 16 and 45; US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2013,” Washington, DC, August 2013, p. 54; Dan Church Aid, “Japan grant for Lebanon ensures purchase of equipment,” 3 September 2012; interview with Col. Rolly Fares, LMAC, Beirut, 3 May 2012; response to Monitor questionnaire by Claudia Moser, Section for Multilateral Peace Policy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, 22 March 2013; UN Mine Action Service , “UNMAS Annual Report 2012”; and Italy, Financial Tracking System, Reliefweb, fts.unocha.org/pageloader.aspx?page=search-reporting_display&CQ=cq240413220104Nk8VOBnyzx.
[2] Interviews with Lt.-Col. Mohammad El Cheikh, LMAC, Beirut, 22 February 2010; and Col. Rolly Fares, LMAC, Beirut, 3 May 2012.
[3] EU, “Mine Action in Lebanon: Guidelines for Grant Applicants,” 2 October 2012.
[4] LMAC, “2012 Annual Report Lebanon Mine Action Center: About LMAC,” Beirut, March 2013, p. 44.
[5] UNDP, “Mine Action in Lebanon: A Review of the Lebanon Mine Action Programme and UNDP Support to mine action in Lebanon,” Final Report, September 2011, p. 15.
[6] Response to Monitor questionnaire from Maj. Pierre Bou Maroun, Lebanese Armed Forces Regional Mine Action Centre (RMAC), Nabatiye, 2 May 2012; Blom Bank, “Blom Bank Launches the Blom Mastercard Giving Affinity Card In collaboration with the Lebanese Mine Action Center, a unit of the Lebanese ARM,” Press release, 20 May 2010, Beirut; and interviews with Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Fehmi, LMAC, Beirut, 24 August 2010 and 12 May 2011.
[7] Average exchange rate for 2012: A$1=US$1.0359; €1=US$1.2859; ¥79.82=US$1; NOK5.8181=US$1; CHF0.9377=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[8] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Lebanon: Support for Mine Action,” 15 October 2012.
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