Syria
Support for Mine Action
In 2017, 14 donors reported contributing US$89.4 million to mine action activities in the Syrian Arab Republic, $70 million more than in 2016 when international funding totaled $18.6 million.[1]
The United States (US) provided the largest contribution with $63 million, to support clearance operations in areas liberated from Islamic State in northeast Syria, as well as risk education and capacity-building activities. This represented 70% of the total international mine action assistance in Syria for 2017. In addition, Germany also provided substantial funds to mine action activities in Syria and contributed nearly $14 million.
International contributions: 2017[2]
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount (US$) |
US |
Various |
$63,000,000 |
63,000,000 |
Germany |
Various |
€12,331,583 |
13,935,922 |
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK30,000,000 |
3,628,491 |
Denmark |
Clearance and risk education |
DKK18,907,895 |
2,866,700 |
Japan |
Various |
¥145,730,000 |
1,300,000 |
Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) |
Various |
N/A |
1,200,000 |
Netherlands |
Clearance and risk education |
€730,942 |
826,038 |
European Union |
Various |
€629,196 |
711,054 |
Switzerland |
Risk education |
CHF675,000 |
685,836 |
Canada |
Clearance and risk education |
C$718,309 |
553,226 |
Sweden |
Various |
SEK2,490,050 |
291,473 |
Finland |
Risk education and victim assistance |
€233,000 |
263,313 |
Czech Republic |
Clearance |
CZK3,000,000 |
128,414 |
Estonia |
Various |
€17,698 |
20,000 |
Total |
|
|
89,410,467 |
Note: N/A = not applicable.
Since 2013, international contributions to mine action in Syria jumped from just $3.6 million in 2013 to more than $89 million in 2017, and totaled nearly $124.4 million (more than half of which was provided in 2017).
Summary of international contributions: 2013–2017[3]
Year |
International contributions (US$) |
2017 |
89,410,467 |
2016 |
18,610,221 |
2015 |
11,284,558 |
2014 |
1,466,255 |
2013 |
3,618,767 |
Total |
124,390,268 |
[1] 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; 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; Switzerland, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 30 April 2018, Netherlands, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, April 2018; emails from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 25 September 2018; from Olivia Douwes, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministry 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; responses to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Meeussen, Mine Action Focal Point, EU EEAS, 25 October 2018; by Trine Louise Magard Hansen, Head of Section, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3O October 2018; and by Mikko Autti, Desk Officer, Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 October 2018; and UNMAS, “Annual Report 2016,” March 2018, p. 22.
[2] Average exchange rate for 2017: C$1.2984=US$1; CHF0.9842=US$1; CZK23.362=US$1; DKK6.5957=US$1; €1=US$1.1301; NOK8.2679=US$1; SEK8.5430=US$1; ¥112.1=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 11 January 2018.
[3] See previous Monitor reports.