Australia
Support for Mine Action
In 2020, the Commonwealth of Australia contributed A$5.9 million (US$4.4 million) in mine action funding to four countries and global activities.[1] Australia’s funding for mine action in 2021 decreased by 33% compared to the previous year.
The largest contributions went to United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) projects in Afghanistan and Iraq for clearance and risk education activities.
Contributions by recipient: 2021[2]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (A$) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Iraq |
Clearance and risk education |
3,000,000 |
2,254,500 |
|
Global |
Advocacy and risk education |
1,050,000 |
789,075 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance |
900,000 |
676,350 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Clearance |
642,000 |
482,463 |
|
Palau |
Clearance (ERW) |
261,721 |
196,683 |
|
Total |
N/A |
5,853,721 |
4,399,071 |
Note: ERW=explosive remnants of war; N/A=not applicable.
Mine action assistance approach
In 2020 and 2021, Australia noted that its support was directed toward clearance of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), stockpile management, victim assistance, 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 due to the impact of the COVID-19 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 2017–2021, Australia’s contribution to mine action totaled more than A$46 million (US$33.5 million), compared to the A$65.8million (US$60.3 million) provided during the previous five-year period from 2012–2016. When expressed in US$, this represents a decrease of 44%.
Summary of contributions: 2017–2021[6]
|
Year |
Amount (A$) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2021 |
5,853,721 |
4,399,071 |
-33 |
|
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 |
|
Total |
46,485,266 |
33,520,713 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Average exchange rate for 2021: A$1=US$0.7515. United States (US) Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2022.
[2] Australia Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2021), Form I. See, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Database; and Australia Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2021), Form J. See, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Database.
[3] Mine Action Support Group (MASG) 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.