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Iraq
Support for Mine Action
In 2009 neither the government of Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), the Regional Mine Action Center (RMAC) in Basra, or the General Directorate of Mine Action reported making financial contributions to Iraq’s mine action program. According to UNDP, between 2004 and 2008 the government of Iraq contributed US$15 million annually to mine action, although only a small amount of it went towards service delivery, such as demining or victim assistance.[1] IKMAA, the RMAC, and the General Directorate of Mine Action did not respond to inquiries about government financial support to mine action.
International support, despite the absence of a national mine action strategy prior to 2010, has averaged over $35 million since 2006. In 2009, 10 donors contributed $34,652,872 for clearance, victim assistance, and risk education. In June 2009, UNDP and UNICEF reported that donors would expect the government of Iraq to begin co-financing mine action in the near future.[2]
The United States, Finland, Norway, and Australia contributed $3,232,107 for victim assistance in 2009.[3] Australia made its contribution through UNDP to assist all conflict victims, including mine/explosive remnants of war survivors.[4]
In 2010, the UN Mine Action Portfolio Iraq Country Team based its plans on continued international support at least until 2011.[5] Until legislation is passed and governmental mine action structures and responsibilities are clarified, funding for mine action from the government will be limited.[6]
The Iraq Mine Action Strategy 2010–2012 assumes international donors will fund clearance operations and that national authorities (ministries of defense, interior, and the environment), will contribute approximately $21.71 million over three years for victim assistance, risk education, strategic planning, and information management personnel.[7]
In a June 2010 assessment of US support to mine action in Iraq, the Office of the Inspector General for the US Department of State concluded that until the government of Iraq makes a sustainable commitment to clearing mines and explosive remnants of war, especially in the southern regions, progress towards clearing mines would be slow.[8]
International government contributions: 2009[9]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
US |
Clearance, victim assistance, risk education |
$22,210,000 |
22,210,000 |
|
Sweden |
Clearance |
SEK24,700,000 |
3,227,055 |
|
Norway |
Clearance, victim assistance |
NOK14,724,000 |
2,340,527 |
|
Australia |
Victim assistance |
A$2,400,000 |
1,902,480 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance |
€1,296,000 |
1,805,976 |
|
Denmark |
Clearance |
DKK6,900,000 |
1,287,954 |
|
Ireland |
Clearance |
€500,000 |
696,750 |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥56,272,000 |
600,422 |
|
Germany |
Clearance |
€217,444 |
303,008 |
|
Finland |
Victim assistance |
€200,000 |
278,700 |
|
Total |
|
|
34,652,872 |
Summary of contributions: 2005–2009[10]
|
Year |
International contributions ($) |
|
2009 |
34,652,872 |
|
2008 |
35,886,215 |
|
2007 |
37,279,571 |
|
2006 |
35,288,325 |
|
2005 |
27,800,000 |
|
Total |
170,906,983 |
[1] UNDP and UNICEF, “Overview of Landmines and Remnants of War in Iraq,” Baghdad, June 2009, p. 21, www.reliefweb.int.
[2] Ibid, p. 5.
[3] Email from Derek Taylor, Acting Director, Iraq and Middle East Section, AusAID, 27 May 2010; response to Monitor questionnaire by Vilde Rosén, Advisor, Humanitarian Disarmament Department for UN, Peace and Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 13 April 2010; email from Sirpa Loikkanen, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2010; and US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2010,” Washington, DC, July 2010.
[4] Email from Derek Taylor, AusAID, 27 May 2010.
[5] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 177.
[6] UNDP and UNICEF, “Overview of Landmines and Remnants of War in Iraq,” Baghdad, June 2009, p. 43, www.reliefweb.int.
[7] “Iraq Mine Action Strategy 2010–2012,” p. 15, www.gichd.org.
[8] Office of the Inspector General, US Department of State, “Inspection of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs in Iraq,” Report No. ISP-I-10-41, June 2010, p. 3, oig.state.gov.
[9] Emails from Klaus Koppetsch, Desk Officer, Mine Action Task Force for Humanitarian Aid, German Federal Foreign Office, 8 April 2010; Miki Nagashima, Conventional Arms Division, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2010; Derek Taylor, AusAID, 27 May 2010; Hanne Elmelund Gam, Department of Humanitarian and NGO Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2010; and Mark Fitzpatrick, Programme Manager, Department for International Development, 14 June 2010. Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Ira Amin, Intern, Multilateral Peace Policy Section, Directorate of Political Affairs, Political Affairs Division IV, Human Security, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, 20 April 2010; Amb. Lars-Erik Wingren, Department for Disarmament and Non-proliferation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 17 March 2010; and Vilde Rosén, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 13 April 2010. US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2010,” Washington, DC, July 2010. Average exchange rate for 2009: SEK1=US$0.13065; NOK1=US$0.15896; A$1=US$0.7927; €1=US$1.3935; DKK1=US$0.18666; ¥1=US$0.01067. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2010.
[10] See Landmine Monitor Report 2009, p. 492; Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 456; and Landmine Monitor Report 2007, p. 459.
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