Australia
Support for Mine Action
In 2020, the Commonwealth of Australia contributed A$9.5million (US$6.5 million)[1] in mine action funding to five countries and global activities. Australia’s mine action funding level in 2020 decreased by 40% compared to the previous year.
As in 2019, the largest contributions went to United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) projects in Iraq and Syria for clearance and risk education activities.
Contributions by recipient: 2020[2]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (A$) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Iraq |
Clearance and risk education |
4,000,000 |
2,759,600 |
|
Syria |
Risk education |
3,000,000 |
2,069,700 |
|
Cambodia |
Clearance |
1,000,000 |
689,900 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Clearance (landmines) |
800,000 |
551,920 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance |
400,000 |
275,960 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
250,000 |
172,475 |
|
Total |
9,450,000 |
6,519,555 |
Mine action assistance approach
In 2020 and 2021, Australia noted that its support is directed at clearance of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), stockpile management and victim assistance, as well as capacity-building and establishment of best practices.[3]
COVID-19 and mine action support
In May 2021, Australia said that it had to reduce its mine action funding because of the impact of the pandemic, though it was reported that funding levels for the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022 were “nearing pre-COVID levels.”[4] Australia has also adapted activities and agreements to take into account the impacts of the pandemic.[5]
Five-year support to mine action
From 2016–2020, Australia’s contribution to mine action totaled more than A$55 million (US$40.2 million), compared to the A$95.1 million (US$94.9 million) provided during the previous five-year period from 2011–2015. When expressed in US$, this represents a decrease of 58%.
Summary of contributions: 2016–2020[6]
|
Year |
Amount (A$) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2020 |
9,450,000 |
6,519,555 |
-40 |
|
2019 |
15,551,545 |
10,811,434 |
+38 |
|
2018 |
10,480,000 |
7,840,088 |
+98 |
|
2017 |
5,150,000 |
3,950,565 |
-64 |
|
2016 |
14,895,000 |
11,089,328 |
+170 |
|
Total |
55,526,545 |
40,210,970 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Average exchange rate for 2020: A$1=US$0.6899. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2021.
[2] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form I; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form J. See, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 databases.
[3] Mine Action Support Group Meeting, held virtually, Minutes, 28 May 2021; and statement of Australia, Mine Ban Treaty Eighteenth Meeting of States Parties, held virtually, 16–20 November 2020.
[5] Australia Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2020), Form J.
[6] See previous Monitor reports.