Iraq
Support for Mine Action
In 2017, 17 donors contributed a total of US$200.7 million for mine action activities to the Republic of Iraq.[1] This represented an increase of almost $120 million compared to 2016.
The rise observed in 2017 is in large part the result of massive increases in the contributions of the United States (US) and Germany. Both donors provided the largest contributions with a combined total of almost $154 million, which represents more than three-quarters of the total international mine action assistance in Iraq for 2017. In addition, four donors provided more than $5 million each: the European Union (EU), Norway, the United Kingdom (UK), and Denmark.
Only Germany and Norway reported supporting victim assistance activities, with a combined total of some $550,000 (less than 0.5% of total funding).
As in previous years, the government of Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency, the Regional Mine Action Center in Basra, and the General Directorate of Mine Action did not report making any financial contributions to Iraq’s mine action program in 2017.
International contributions: 2017[2]
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount (US$) |
US |
Clearance and risk education |
$106,587,000 |
106,587,000 |
Germany |
Various |
€41,828,636 |
47,270,542 |
EU |
Various |
€10,533,510 |
11,903,920 |
Norway |
Various |
NOK80,378,000 |
9,721,695 |
UK |
Clearance and risk education |
£5,000,000 |
6,445,000 |
Denmark |
Clearance and risk education |
DKK33,000,000 |
5,003,260 |
Japan |
Various |
¥538,253,195 |
4,801,545 |
Canada |
Clearance and risk education |
C$4,247,503 |
3,271,336 |
Netherlands |
Clearance and risk education |
€2,158,116 |
2,438,887 |
Finland |
Clearance and risk education |
€1,000,000 |
1,130,100 |
Luxembourg |
Clearance |
€599,552 |
677,554 |
Italy |
Clearance and victim assistance |
€500,000 |
565,050 |
Belgium |
Clearance |
€400,000 |
452,040 |
Czech Republic |
Clearance |
CZK5,000,000 |
214,023 |
Portugal |
Various |
€156,119 |
176,430 |
Estonia |
Various |
€35,395 |
40,000 |
Sweden |
Risk education |
SEK142,200 |
16,645 |
Total |
200,715,027 |
Since 2013, international assistance toward mine action activities in Iraq totaled more than $436.6 million and has approximately been multiplied by six during the period from $33.3 million in 2013 to more than $200.7 million in 2017.
Summary of contributions: 2013–2017[3]
Year |
International contributions (US$) |
% change from previous year |
2017 |
200,715,027 |
+149 |
2016 |
80,741,822 |
+56 |
2015 |
51,887,158 |
+44 |
2014 |
36,012,987 |
+8 |
2013 |
33,254,760 |
-2 |
Total |
402,611,754 |
[1] Belgium, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2018; Canada, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 May 2018; Czech Republic, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 27 March 2018; Germany, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form, J, 2 March 2018; Italy, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2018; Japan, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2018; Sweden, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 23 April 2018; United Kingdom, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2018; responses to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Braun, Desk Disarmament, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14 March 2018; by Mikko Autti, Desk Officer, Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 October 2018; and by Frank Meeussen, Mine Action Focal Point, EU EEAS, 25 October 2018; emails from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 25 September 2018; from Olivia Douwes, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministrw of Foreign Affairs, 12 September 2018; and from Katherine Baker, Foreign Affairs Officer, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 9 and 24 October 2018; and UNMAS, “Annual Report 2017,” March 2018, p. 22.
[2] Average exchange rate for 2017: C$1.2984=US$1; DKK6.5957=US$1; €1=US$1.1301; NOK8.2679=US$1; SEK8:5430=US$1; £1=US$1.2980; ¥112.1=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 11 January 2018. Average exchange rate for 2017: US$1=CZK23.362, Oanda, Historical Exchange Rates.
[3] See previous Monitor reports.