United States

The United States of America (US) is the largest donor for mine action, having contributed over US$2 billion since 1993. In 2012 as part of the its Conventional Weapons Destruction program within the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA), the US contributed $134.4 million to mine action in 30 countries and three territories through more than 40 organizations, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the International Trust Fund Enhancing Human Security (ITF).[1]

Afghanistan and Iraq received the largest contributions, and together they constituted almost half (48%) of US funding in 2012, approximately the same percentage as in 2011. Six recipients (Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Colombia, Iraq, and Lao PDR) each received at least $5 million each.

In 2012, the US reported on their priorities for the period in different regions: in addition to increased US support in the Pacific to clear World War II-era unexploded ordnance in Palau, the Solomon Islands, and other Pacific nations and to build local capacity in the region,[2] it also increased its assistance to Lao PDR from $5 million to $9.3 million, an increase of 46%.

In southeastern Europe, largely consisting of countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia, the US shifted its major focus from reducing the threat from landmines to reducing excess stockpiles of obsolete small arms, light weapons, and ammunition. Nevertheless, the US contributed $4.7 million to countries in southeastern Europe for mine action, including $2.3 million to Bosnia Herzegovina. All US funding for southeastern Europe is provided through the ITF.

Since 2011, the US has provided approximately $40 million in assistance to locate and secure man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and other weapons.[3] The WRA in the US Department of State’s Bureau of Political Military Affairs reported a contribution of $21.8 million to Libya from other State Department sources in 2012.[4] The US did not disaggregate this funding to Libya regarding MANPADS and landmines. In an interview with Michael P. Moore from Landmines in Africa, Major General Walter D. Givhan, the US State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Plans, Programs and Operations, said, “In Libya, the US government prioritized securing MANPADS over landmines and while some of the funds made available for MANPADS destruction also covered landmine destruction and removal, the intent was to eliminate the MANPADS.”[5]

The US also provides ongoing support to the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR), located at James Madison University in the state of Virginia, which supports research, training—including the annual Senior Mine Action Managers’ Course—and the Journal of Mine Action publication.[6]

Since 2008, the US has contributed almost $600 million to mine action, largely through the WRA and the Leahy War Victims Fund of USAID.

Contributions by recipient: 2012[7]

In 2012, 88% of US support went towards capacity building, survey, and clearance programs. The US contributed $15.5 million towards victim assistance in 13 countries, an increase of $3 million from 2011.[8] Recipients included the ICRC, the International Center, Information Management and Mine Action Programs, It is known as iMMAPClear Path International, the Polus Center, Project Renew, and PeaceTrees Vietnam. Contributions attributed to global funding went to the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics and the World Health Organization.[9]

Two US government offices provide funding for victim assistance. In 2012, WRA provided $5.8 million to victim assistance projects in five countries; USAID provided $9.7 million to victim assistance projects in seven countries through the Leahy War Victims Fund, which is one of the five Special Programs to Address the Needs of Survivors (SPANS) within the Bureau for Democracy (a part of USAID).[10] In 2013, the Leahy War Victims Fund commenced a new three-year, $2.3 million project for people with disabilities.[11] Other victim assistance support went through the ITF in Slovenia and grants from the WRA directly to NGOs.

In addition, the US provided $10.2 million through USAID to programs that target persons with disabilities in more than 30 countries and territories where there are landmine survivors, including Georgia, Montenegro, Iraq, Jordan, and Nicaragua as well as Kosovo.[12]

The US-based NGO Spirit of Soccer received funding to deliver risk education in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Iraq in 2012.[13]

Contributions by thematic sector: 2012

Contributions for victim assistance, by recipient country: 2012

Summary of contributions: 2008–2012[14]