Lao PDR

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 16 November 2020

In 2019, seven donors contributed some US$42 million to support mine action in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR); a $4.4million (or 10%) decrease compared to the $46.4 million contributed in 2018.[1]

In September 2016, the United States (US) announced it would provide $90 million over three years to support unexploded ordnance survey and clearance operations.[2] Consequently, the US provided more than three-quarters (76%) of all international funding in 2019. In 2017–2019, the US provided a total of $93.3 million.

Of the total contribution, about one-fifth ($8.8 million or 21%) went toward clearance and risk education activities, while 5% ($2.3 million) was for victim assistance, 2% went to capacity-building ($0.7 million), and the remainder ($30.2 million or 72%) went to other mine action activities that were not disaggregated by the donors.

In 2019, the government of Lao PDR reported a contribution of some $30,000 to its own mine action program, mainly to cover administrative costs such as rent, equipment, and personnel expenses.[3]

International contributions: 2019[4]

Donor

Sector

Amount

(national currency)

Amount

(US$)

United States

Capacity-building, clearance, risk education, and victim assistance

US$32,000,000

32,000,000

United Kingdom

Clearance and risk education

£4,556,851

5,818,187

Norway

Clearance, risk education and victim assistance

NOK21,486,809

2,441,655

Luxembourg

Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance

€150,000

167,910

Japan

Capacity-building and risk education

¥104,665,196

960,055

Ireland

Clearance

€500,000

559,700

Canada

Risk education

C$78,700

59,311

Total

 

N/A

42,006,818

Note: N/A=not applicable.

With a total of nearly $200 million received in the five-year period from 2015–2019, international contributions to mine action in Lao PDR have averaged some $40 million per year. Lao PDR was the fourth largest recipient of international support during the period.

Summary of international contributions: 2015–2019[5]

Year

Amount

(US$)

2019

42,006,818

2018

46,356,744

2017

39,113,542

2016

34,146,649

2015

38,214,976

Total

199,838,729

 


[1] Canada Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 11 June 2020; Ireland Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 March 2020; Japan Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 March 2020; response to Monitor questionnaire by Steve Hoscheit, Desk Disarmament, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, 4 May 2020; email from Ingrid Schøyen, Senior Advisor, Humanitarian Affairs, Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2020; United Kingdom Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 2020; US Department of State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA), “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2019,” 2 April 2020; and email from Kirsten Lentz, Senior Technical Advisor, Rehabilitation, USAID Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Office, Empowerment and Inclusion Division, 16 June 2020.

[2] The White House, “Fact sheet: US-Laos relations,” 6 September 2016.

[4] Average exchange rates for 2019: C$1.3269=US$1. €1=US$1.1194; ¥109.02=US$1; NOK8.8001=US$1; and £1=US$1.2768. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2020.

[5] See previous Monitor profiles.