Lao PDR
Support for Mine Action
In 2016, 11 donors contributed US$35.1 million to support mine action in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), a 17% decrease compared to the $42.6 million in 2015.[1]
In September 2016, the United States (US) announced it would provide $90 million over three years to support unexploded ordinance (UXO) survey and clearance operations.[2] New Zealand also declared it would commit $7.3 million to support UXO clearance and survey through the UNDP.[3] Consequently, the US and New Zealand together provided nearly 90% of all international funding in 2016.
In 2016, the government of Lao PDR reported a contribution of some $750,000 to its own mine action program, mainly to cover administrative costs such as rent, equipment, and personnel expenses.[4]
International contributions: 2016[5]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount (US$) |
|
US |
Clearance and risk education |
US$20,500,000 |
20,500,000 |
|
New Zealand |
Clearance |
NZ$10,350,000 |
7,220,160 |
|
European Union |
Clearance and risk education |
€2,400,000 |
2,657,280 |
|
Norway |
Clearance and victim assistance |
NOK15,700,000 |
1,870,473 |
|
United Kingdom |
Clearance and risk education |
£764,016 |
1,035,624 |
|
Netherlands |
Various |
€536,863 |
594,415 |
|
Japan |
Clearance |
¥62,768,753 |
577,662 |
|
Ireland |
Clearance |
€400,00 |
442,880 |
|
Luxembourg |
Clearance and risk education |
€150,000 |
166,080 |
|
South Korea |
Clearance and risk education |
N/A |
50,000 |
|
Switzerland |
Clearance and risk education |
CHF31,588 |
32,076 |
|
Total |
|
|
35,146,650 |
Note: N/A = not applicable.
With more than $192 million received from 2012–2016, international contributions to Lao PDR have averaged some $38 million per year, which is more than twice as much as during the previous five-year period 2007–2011, when donors provided $78.4 million (an average of $15.7 million per year).
Summary of international contributions: 2012–2016[6]
|
Year |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2016 |
35,146,650 |
-17 |
|
2015 |
42,594,976 |
+14 |
|
2014 |
38,091,423 |
+9 |
|
2013 |
34,827,039 |
-16 |
|
2012 |
41,344,035 |
+92 |
|
Total |
192,004,123 |
|
[1] Ireland, Convention on Conventional Weapons Amended Protocol II Annual Report, Form E, and Annex 1, 30 March 2017; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; response to Monitor questionnaire by Olivia Douwes, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017; New Zealand, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 27 April 2017; email from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2017; South Korea, Convention on Conventional Weapons Amended Protocol II Annual Report, Form B, 26 April 2017; Switzerland, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 28 April 2017; United Kingdom, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; response to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, European External Action Service, 30 September 2017; and email from Steve Costner, Deputy Office Director, Weapons Removal and Abatement, United States (US) Department of State, 30 October 2017.
[2] The White House, “Fact sheet: US-Laos relations,” 6 September 2016.
[3] UNDP, “Unexploded ordnance clearance in Xieng Khouang receives a boost,” 8 September 2016.
[4] Lao PDR, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 27 April 2017.
[5] Average exchange rate for 2016: €1=US$1.1072; ¥108.66=US$1; NZ$1=US$0.6976; NOK8.3936=US$1; £1=US$1.3555; CHF0.9848=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2017.
[6] See previous Monitor profiles. Totals for international support in 2015 and 2014 have been rectified as a result of revised US funding data. Total for 2012 has also been rectified as a result of database clean-up.