Lebanon
Support for Mine Action
In 2014, contributions from eight international donors for mine action activities in Lebanon totaled US$6.1 million, a 68% decrease from the $19 million reported in 2013.[1] The Netherlands and the United States (US) both contributed more than $1.5 million.
Two states (Turkey and the US) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) provided support through the ITF Enhancing Human Security.
In addition to financial contributions Lebanon received in-kind assistance from Belgium valued at €2,450,000 ($3,257,765) to support clearance operations, as well as France valued at €210,000 ($279,237) toward the Regional School for Humanitarian Demining.[2]
In September 2012, the European Union (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 risk education.[3] Thus, the EU reported several contributions totaling €8.1 million ($10.8 million) in 2013.[4] In 2015, the EU has planned to provide an additional €10 million ($11 million) to support Lebanon’s land release and victim assistance activities.[5]
In 2014, the Ministry of Defense of Lebanon supported the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) with personnel, facilities, and 19 Armed Forcers Engineering Regiment teams. Lebanon has reported contributing an average of $9 million per year.[6] Other government support has not been reported.
Lebanon also reported contributions from the private sector in 2014 with $209,476 provided by BLOM Bank[7] and Jammal Trust Bank for clearance activities.[8]
International contributions: 2014[9]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance |
€1,578,000 |
2,098,267 |
|
US |
Clearance |
$1,736,461 |
1,736,461 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK6,061,000 |
962,537 |
|
OFID |
Clearance |
$500,000 |
500,000 |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥40,655,232 |
384,483 |
|
Australia |
Clearance |
A$355,000 |
320,707 |
|
South Korea |
Clearance |
N/R |
49,900 |
|
Turkey |
Various |
N/R |
49,900 |
|
Total |
|
|
6,102,255 |
Note: N/R=not reported
Since 2010, the government of Lebanon contributed $39.9 million to its mine action program, or 35% of its total mine action budget, while international contributions totaled almost $75 and averaged about $15 million per year.
Lebanon’s Mine Action Strategy 2011–2020 had estimated the need for more than $43 million a year for 2014–2016.[10] This target has not been met by a large margin in 2014.
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[11]
|
Year |
National contributions ($) |
International contributions ($) |
Total budget ($) |
|
2014 |
9,000,000 |
6,102,255 |
15,102,255 |
|
2013 |
9,000,000 |
19,072,388 |
28,072,388 |
|
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 |
|
Total |
39,900,000 |
74,554,922 |
114,454,922 |
[1] Australia Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Protocol II Annual Report, 27 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 Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2015; ITF Enhancing Human Security, Annual Report 2014, March 2015, p. 23; UNMAS, Annual Report 2014, September 2015, p. 22; and Lebanon Mine Action Center, Annual Report 2014, undated, p. 34.
[2] Belgium Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, May 2015; and France Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, May 2015.
[3] EU, “Mine Action in Lebanon: Guidelines for Grant Applicants,” 2 October 2012.
[4] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Jérôme Legrand, Policy Officer, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Conventional Weapons and Space Division (K1), EEAS, 5 May 2014.
[5] Email from Jérôme Legrand, EEAS, 11 June 2015; and European Commission, European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, “Countries of the region: Lebanon,” last updated 13 October 2015. Average exchange rate for September 2015: €1=US$1.1229. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Monthly),” 1 October 2015.
[6] Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC), Annual Report 2014, undated, p. 35; and LMAC, Mine Action Strategy Mid-Term Review, undated, p. 62.
[7] Since 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.
[8] LMAC, Annual Report 2014, undated, p.35.
[9] Average exchange rate for 2014: A$1=US$0.9034; €1=US$1.3297; ¥105.74=US$1; NOK6.2969=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[10] LMAC, Mine Action Strategy 2011–2020, September 2011, p. 21.
[11] See previous Monitor reports.