Iraq

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 26 October 2016

In 2015, nine donors contributed a total of US$36.6 million for mine action activities to the Republic of Iraq.[1] The United States (US) contributed $18 million, or half of the total international assistance.

Only Germany and the Netherlands supported victim assistance activities, with a combined total of $1.9 million (5% of total funding).

As in previous years, the government of Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency, the Regional Mine Action Center in Basra, and the General Directorate of Mine Action did not report making any financial contributions to Iraq’s mine action program in 2015.

In July 2016, Canada, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, and the US co-hosted a pledging conference in support of Iraq; among the issues addressed during the conference were funding requirements for demining. Over $80 million in new support was pledged by Australia ($3.8 million), Canada ($3.1 million), Egypt (technical support), Finland ($5.5 million), Germany ($16.5 million), the Netherlands ($11.1 million), Spain (technical support), and the US ($45 million).[2]

International contributions: 2015[3]

Donor

Sector

Amount (national currency)

Amount ($)

US

Clearance and risk education

$18,000,000

18,000,000

European Union

Clearance

€6,289,866

6,979,235

Japan

Various

¥589,276,363

4,868,041

Netherlands

Various

€3,100,000

3,439,760

Canada

Various

C$2,051,455

1,603,827

Germany

Victim assistance

€700,000

776,720

Norway

Clearance

NOK4,500,000

557,752

United Kingdom

Clearance

£226,000

345,418

South Korea

Various

N/A

19,900

Total

 

 

36,590,653

Note: N/A=not applicable

Since 2011, international assistance toward mine action activities in Iraq has been relatively consistent with more than $170 million received, which represents an average of $34.2 million per year.

Summary of contributions: 2011–2015[4]

Year

International contributions ($)

% change from previous year

2015

36,590,653

+11

2014

32,836,987

-1

2013

33,217,587

-2

2012

33,994,996

-1

2011

34,384,778

-7

Total

171,025,001

 

 



[1] Canada, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 17 March 2016; Germany, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 4 April 2016; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, April 2016; Netherlands, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2016; United Kingdom, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 29 April 2016; emails from Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, European External Action Service, 30 September 2016; from Katherine Baker, Foreign Affairs Officer, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 12 September 2016; and from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016; and UNMAS, “Annual Report 2015,” March 2016, p. 33.

[2] Government of Canada, “Canada pledges humanitarian and stabilization support for Iraq,” 19 July 2016; statement by John Kerry, US Secretary of State, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Finland grants additional support to Iraq,” 20 July 2016; statement of Australia, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister,  Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement of the Netherlands, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement of Egypt, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; and statement of Spain, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016.

[3] Average exchange rate for 2015: C$1.2791=US$1; €1=US$1.1096; NOK8.0681=US$1; £1=US$1.5284; ¥121.05=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2016.

[4] See previous Monitor reports.