Belgium
Support for Mine Action
In 2015, the Kingdom of Belgium contributed €270,000 (US$299,592)—down from €2.4 million ($3.2 million) in 2014—in mine action funding to three countries, as well as to global advocacy activities.[1]
In addition to financial support, Belgium has also conducted a variety of research projects. Since 1997, it has supported a research project on the use of rats in mine detection conducted by the NGO APOPO and the University of Antwerp. Belgium also reported contributing to the TIRAMISU project that aims at providing a cost-effective toolbox to help addressing issues related to humanitarian demining.[2]
Contributions by recipient: 2015[3]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
|
Mozambique |
Clearance |
200,000 |
221,920 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
50,000 |
55,480 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance |
10,000 |
11,096 |
|
Colombia |
Victim assistance |
10,000 |
11,096 |
|
Total |
|
270,000 |
299,592 |
Since 2011 and as a result of budgetary cuts, Belgium’s annual contributions to mine action have fallen considerably from €5.8 million ($8.1 million) to just €270,000 ($299,592).
Between 2011–2015, Belgium’s funding to mine action totaled €16.4 million ($21.9 million), this represents half the level of its total support during the previous five-year period, from 2006 to 2010, when Belgium contributed €37.1 million ($50.7 million).[4]
Summary of contributions: 2011–2015[5]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
% change from previous year ($) |
|
2015 |
270,000 |
299,592 |
-91 |
|
2014 |
2,378,028 |
3,162,064 |
2 |
|
2013 |
2,273,060 |
3,097,547 |
-57 |
|
2012 |
5,592,222 |
7,191,039 |
-12 |
|
2011 |
5,843,386 |
8,140,421 |
-32 |
|
Total |
16,356,696 |
21,890,663 |
|
[1] Average exchange rate for 2015: €1=US$1.1096. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2016.
[2] Convention on Conventional Weapons Protocol II Annual Report, Form E, 31 March 2016.
[3] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, 24 March 2016.
[4] See, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, “Country Profile: Belgium: Support for Mine Action,” 11 August 2011.
[5] See previous Monitor reports.