Italy
Support for Mine Action
In 2019, the Republic of Italy contributed €4.2 million (US$4.8 million)[1] in mine action funding to nine countries as well as global activities. This is similar to its 2019 level of funding. Italy’s contribution in 2021 was expected to double in 2021 at €8.5 million ($10.3 million).[2]
Overall, Italy allocated more than €1 million ($1.2 million)—25% of Italy’s total mine action funding—to victim assistance programs in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Somalia. Approximately €1.2million ($1.4 million) went to clearance and risk education activities in Iraq, Palestine, and Syria, accounting for 29% of its total contribution. About €0.9 million ($1 million) was allocated to capacity-building activities in Colombia and Libya, representing 21% of its annual contribution.
A further €700,000 (nearly $800,000)—representing 17% of its contribution—supported clearance, risk education and victim assistance activities in Sudan and Yemen but could not be disaggregated by sector.
The remaining €300,000 (some $340,000 or 8% of its total contribution), designated as “global” in the table below, was provided to institutions and non-government organizations, without a designated recipient state or area.
Contributions by recipient: 2019[3]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Afghanistan |
Victim assistance |
750,000 |
855,750 |
|
Iraq |
Clearance and risk education |
600,000 |
684,600 |
|
Libya |
Capacity-building |
575,000 |
656,075 |
|
Sudan |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
500,000 |
570,500 |
|
Syria |
Clearance |
500,000 |
570,500 |
|
Colombia |
Capacity-building and victim assistance |
425,000 |
484,925 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
300,000 |
342,300 |
|
Somalia |
Victim assistance |
200,000 |
228,200 |
|
Yemen |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
200,000 |
228,200 |
|
Palestine |
Clearance and risk education |
140,733 |
160,576 |
|
Total |
4,190,733 |
4,781,626 |
Mine action assistance approach
In 2001, Italy established the Trust Fund for Humanitarian Demining which is dedicated to allocating resources to mine action projects.
Italy supports all pillars of mine action, focusing in particular on clearance, risk education, and victim assistance activities. For 2021, Italy expected to contribute to activities in Iraq, Mali, Niger, Somalia, and Syria.[4]
Five-year support to mine action
From 2016–2020, Italy contributed more than €18 million ($20.8 million) to mine action, compared to €10.1 million ($12.9 million) during the previous five-year period from 2011–2015.
Italy has steadily increased its annual support for mine action since 2013: from €1.1 million to more than €3 million in 2017–2018 and more than €4 million in 2019–2020.
Summary of contributions: 2016–2020[5]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2020 |
4,190,733 |
4,781,626 |
-6 |
|
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 |
|
Total |
18,328,753 |
20,841,720 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Average exchange rate for 2019: €1=US$1.141. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2021.
[2] Mine Action Support Group Meeting (held virtually), Minutes, 28 May 2021. Average exchange rate for May 2021: €1=US$1.2145. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Monthly),” 1 July 2021.
[3] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 3 May 2021; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 3 May 2021.
[5] See previous Monitor reports.