Congo, Democratic Republic of
Support for Mine Action
In 2014, six donors contributed US$10.3 million toward mine action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which represents an increase of $1.5 million (18%) from 2013.[1]
As in 2012 and 2013, the largest contributions came from Japan ($5.2 million) and the Netherlands ($2.5 million), which provided three-quarters of the funding. The DRC also received in-kind assistance from Switzerland valued at CHF450,000 ($491,965) through UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to support clearance operations.[2]
Since March 2014 and the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2147, demining activities are no longer included in the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), and consequently since July 2014, MONUSCO is no longer providing support to mine action in the DRC through its assessed budget.[3]
In 2013, the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) received $6 million from MONUSCO. Funding allocated for the first part of 2014 was not available as of October 2015. From 2010–2013, approximately 30% of the total mine action budget came from the assessed budget for MONUSCO.
The DRC has never reported any contributions to its mine action program, but in its Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request submitted in April 2014, the DRC has committed to providing CDF579,831,000 (approximately $630,000) a year starting in January 2015.[4]
International contributions: 2014[5]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
Japan |
Clearance and risk education |
¥547,510,512 |
5,177,894 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance |
€1,911,000 |
2,541,057 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK9,936,000 |
1,577,919 |
|
United States |
Clearance |
$500,000 |
500,000 |
|
Germany |
Victim assistance |
€200,000 |
265,940 |
|
Common Humanitarian Fund |
Various |
N/A |
200,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
10,262,810 |
Since 2010, international contributions to mine action activities in the DRC totaled some $64 million and average of $12.8 million per year.
The DRC’s most recent Mine Ban Treaty Extension Request projected that a budget of $20 million would be required for 2015–2020, of which $19.4 million would go to demining operations, while the remainder would be used for survey and clearance efforts in Aru and Dungu territories.[6]
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[7]
|
Year |
International contributions ($) |
MONUSCO assessed budget ($) |
Total contributions ($) |
|
2014 |
10,262,810 |
N/R |
10,262,810 |
|
2013 |
8,722,071 |
6,017,494 |
14,739,565 |
|
2012 |
13,213,199 |
7,800,000 |
21,013,199 |
|
2011 |
18,772,915 |
4,900,000 |
23,672,915 |
|
2010 |
13,222,565 |
4,900,000 |
18,122,565 |
|
Total |
64,193,560 |
23,617,494 |
87,811,054 |
Note: N/R = not reported
[1] UNMAS, Annual Report 2014, September 2015, p. 22; Germany Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 16 March 2015; Japan Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2015; responses to Monitor questionnaire by Simone van der Post, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 May 2015; and by Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Advisor, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2015; and US Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification: Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs FY 2016, Appendix 2–3, 2 February 2015, pp. 669–674.
[2] Switzerland Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2015. Average exchange rate for 2014: CHF0.9147=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[3] UN Security Council Resolution 2147, 28 March 2014; and UNMAS, “DRC Overview,” undated.
[4] DRC, Mine Ban Treaty Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 7 April 2014, p. 52. Average exchange rate for 2014: US$1=CDF923.986, Oanda, Historical Exchange Rates.
[5] Average exchange rate for 2014: €1=US$1.3297; ¥105.74=US$1; NOK6.2969=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[6] DRC, Mine Ban Treaty Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 7 April 2014, pp. 51 and 83.
[7] See previous Monitor reports.