Italy

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 16 October 2020

In 2019, the Republic of Italy contributed €4.6 million (more than US$5 million)[1] in mine action funding to nine countries as well as global activities.

The largest contributions went to Afghanistan and Iraq, each receiving a contribution of €700,000 (some $780,000).

Overall, Italy allocated €0.9 million ($1 million)—20% of Italy’s total mine action funding—to victim assistance programs in Afghanistan and Somalia. Approximately €0.8 million ($0.9 million) went to clearance and risk education activities in Iraq and Palestine, accounting for 18% of its total contribution.

A further €371,000 (some $400,000 or 8% of its total contribution), designated as “global” in the table below, was provided to institutions and non-government organizations, without a designated recipient state or area.

More than half of Italy’s contribution, €2.5 million (some $2.8 million), supported clearance, risk education and victim assistance activities in Colombia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, but could not be disaggregated by sector.

Contributions by recipient: 2019[2]

Recipient

Sector

Amount (€)

Amount (US$)

Afghanistan

Victim assistance

700,000

783,580

Iraq

Clearance and risk education

700,000

783,580

Syria

Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance

550,000

615,670

Sudan

Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance

500,000

559,700

Ukraine

Risk education and victim assistance

500,000

559,700

Yemen

Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance

500,000

559,700

Colombia

Clearance and victim assistance

425,000

475,745

Global

Advocacy

371,000

415,297

Somalia

Victim assistance

200,000

223,880

Palestine

Risk education

136,235

152,501

Total

 

4,582,235

5,129,353

 

From 2015–2019, Italy contributed more than €16.8 million ($19 million) to mine action, compared to €10.4 million ($13.8 million) during the previous five-year period from 2010–2014. This shows the negative impact of exchange rate on the US$ value of Italy’s contribution (62% increase in national currency terms; 38% increase in US dollar terms).

Italy has steadily increased its annual support for mine action since 2013 (from €1.1 million/$1.5 million to more than €4.5 million/$5 million in 2019).

Italy expected to provide in 2020 the same level of funding as in 2019.[3]

Summary of contributions: 2015–2019[4]

Year

Amount (€)

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year (US$)

2019

4,582,235

5,129,353

+18

2018

3,656,000

4,320,295

+12

2017

3,415,000

3,859,292

+40

2016

2,484,785

2,751,154

-7

2015

2,671,863

2,964,699

+34

Total

16,809,883

19,024,793

N/A

Note: N/A=not applicable.



[1] Average exchange rate for 2019: €1=US$1.1194. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2020.

[2] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 25 June 2020; and email from Andrea Celentano, Humanitarian and Emergency Aid, Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 14 September 2020.

[3] Email from Andrea Celentano, Humanitarian and Emergency Aid, Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 14 September 2020.

[4] See previous Monitor reports.