Cambodia

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 06 October 2016

In 2015, the Kingdom of Cambodia received US$28.2 million of international assistance from 11 donors; this represents a decrease of $2 million from 2014.[1]

The largest contributions came from Japan ($13.8 million), the United States (US) ($6 million), and Australia ($2.3 million) toward clearance, victim assistance, risk education, and capacity-building activities.

In addition to financial contributions, Cambodia received in-kind assistance from China valued at $500,000, including demining equipment and start-up funding to the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center.[2]

Although donors contributed to various sectors, of the total contribution, more than three-quarters went toward clearance and risk education ($2.1 million).

International contributions: 2015[3]

Donor

Sector

Amount (national currency)

Amount ($)

Japan

Various

¥1,672,008,935

13,812,548

US

Clearance and victim assistance

$6,000,000

6,000,000

Australia

Clearance

A$3,000,000

2,256,600

Finland

Clearance

€1,378,811

1,529,929

United Kingdom

Clearance and risk education

£842,869

1,288,241

Germany

Clearance

€978,325

1,085,549

Norway

Clearance

NOK8,000,000

991,559

Ireland

Clearance

€500,000

554,800

Switzerland

Clearance

CHF405,000

420,648

Netherlands

Clearance

€220,000

244,112

Liechtenstein

Clearance

CHF40,000

41,545

Total

 

 

28,225,531

 

Since 2011, international contributions to mine action in Cambodia totaled $148.6 million, and averaged about $30 million per year.

The national strategy estimated that more than $175 million would be needed for activities in 2015–2019.[4] However, while funding requirements are increasing, there are some concerns about a potential decline in international assistance in the next few years. In June 2015, Prum Sophakmonkol, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, expressed some doubts about Cambodia’s ability to maintain its demining efforts if funding from international partners drops, and was quoted in the media saying that “Money to support mine action from the Cambodian government needs to be balanced with funding for other priorities...We don’t think Cambodia can shoulder this without other countries’ support.”[5]

Summary of international contributions: 2011–2015[6]

Year

International contributions ($)

2015

28,225,531

2014

30,273,798

2013

32,885,151

2012

21,450,721

2011

35,777,295

Total

148,612,496

 



[1] Australia, Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol II Annual Report, Form B, 1 April 2016; Germany, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 4 April 2016; Ireland, CCW Protocol II Annual Report, Form E and Annex 1, 31 March 2016; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2016; Liechtenstein, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2016; Netherlands, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2016; Switzerland, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 28 April 2016; United Kingdom, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2016; emails from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016; and from Katherine Baker, Foreign Affairs Officer, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 12 September 2016; and “Aid for humanitarian mine action in 2015,” Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 29 October 2015. 

[3] Average exchange rate for 2015: A$1=US$0.7522; €1=US$1.1096; ¥121.05=US$1; NOK8.0681=US$1; CHF0.9628=US$1; £1=US$1.5284. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2016.

[4] Government of Cambodia, “National Mine Action Strategy 2010-2019,” Annex B, p. 23.

[5]Money a worry for deminers ahead of 2019 clean-up deadline,” The Phnom Penh Post, 6 June 2015.

[6] See previous Monitor reports.