Egypt
Support for Mine Action
The mine action program in the Arab Republic of Egypt has been stalled since 2009 following the completion of the first phase of a UNDP-supported mine action program (“Support to the North West Coast Development Plan and Mine Action Program”). The second phase of the project—which aims to expand mine clearance operations, facilitate development in the region, reintegrate mine victims, strengthen the national mine action capacity, and assist with resource mobilization efforts—was supposed to start in 2011, but was subject to numerous delays due to lack of funding and political events in Egypt.[1] Finally, phase II was launched in October 2014 with new support provided by the European Union (EU).[2]
The EU was Egypt’s sole international mine action donor in 2014, contributing €4,705,000 (US$6,256,239) through UNDP.[3]
Since 2012, Egypt has not reported any contributions to its own mine action program. The Egyptian army conducts all demining, and no costs associated with demining by the military are publicly available.
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[4]
|
Year |
National contributions ($) |
International contributions ($) |
Total contributions ($) |
|
2014 |
N/R |
6,256,239 |
6,256,239 |
|
2013 |
N/R |
492,240 |
492,240 |
|
2012 |
327,600 |
1,162,207 |
1,489,807 |
|
2011 |
335,000 |
1,247,932 |
1,582,932 |
|
2010 |
N/R |
722,886 |
722,886 |
|
Total |
662,600 |
9,881,504 |
10,544,104 |
Note: N/R = not reported
[1] Interview with Amb. Fathy el-Shazly, Executive Secretariat, in Geneva, 21 March 2012; and UNDP, “Support to the North West Coast Development Plan and Relevant Mine Action: Phase II,” Project Overview, undated.
[2] UNDP, “EU and UNDP Celebrate the Launch of the Second Phase of the Project to Help Develop the North West Coast and Mine Action,” Press Release, 24 October 2014.
[3] Email from Jérôme Legrand, Policy Officer, Conventional Weapons and Space Division (K1), European External Action Service (EEAS), 11 June 2015. Average exchange rate for 2014: €1=US$1.3297. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[4] See previous Monitor reports.