About Us
Our Research Products
Iraq
Support for Mine Action
The Iraq Mine Action Strategy 2010–2012 assumes international donors will fund clearance operations and that national authorities—the ministries of defense, interior, and the environment—will contribute approximately US$21.71 million over three years for victim assistance (VA), risk education (RE), strategic planning, and information management personnel.[1]
As in 2009, neither the government of Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), the Regional Mine Action Center (RMAC) in Basra, or the General Directorate of Mine Action reported making financial contributions to Iraq’s mine action program in 2010.
International support has averaged over $36 million per year since 2006. In 2010, 10 donors contributed $37,152,204 for clearance, VA, and RE activities.[2]
Of the total international contribution in 2010, 91% went towards clearance activities. The United States (US), Finland, Netherlands, and Norway contributed $2,592,905 towards VA activities, [3] which represents 7% of the total international contribution in 2010. The remaining 2% of funds went towards RE activities.
In 2011, the UN Mine Action Portfolio Iraq Country Team based its plans on continued international support at least until 2015.[4]
In a June 2010 assessment of US support to mine action in Iraq, the Office of the Inspector General for the US Department of State concluded that until the government of Iraq makes a sustainable commitment to clearing mines and explosive remnants of war, especially in the southern regions, progress towards clearing mines would be slow.[5]
International contributions: 2010[6]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
US |
Clearance; VA; RE |
$24,914,000 |
24,914,000 |
|
Sweden |
Clearance |
SEK23,000,000 |
3,192,095 |
|
Australia |
Clearance; RE |
A$3,000,000 |
2,760,000 |
|
Norway |
Clearance; VA |
NOK13,700,000 |
2,266,298 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance; VA |
€1,290,000 |
1,710,669 |
|
Belgium |
Clearance |
€500,000 |
663,050 |
|
Denmark |
Clearance |
DKK3,000,000 |
533,182 |
|
Ireland |
Clearance |
€400,000 |
530,440 |
|
Germany |
Clearance |
€239,235 |
317,250 |
|
Finland |
VA |
€200,000 |
265,220 |
|
Total |
|
|
37,152,204 |
Summary of contributions: 2006–2010[7]
|
Year |
International contributions ($) |
|
2010 |
37,152,204 |
|
2009 |
34,652,872 |
|
2008 |
35,886,215 |
|
2007 |
37,279,571 |
|
2006 |
35,288,325 |
|
Total |
180, 259,187 |
[1] “Iraq Mine Action Strategy 2010–2012,” p. 15, www.gichd.org.
[2] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Ingunn Vatne, Senior Advisor, Department for Human Rights, Democracy and Humanitarian Assistance, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27 April 2011; Hanne B. Elmelund Gam, Department for Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark, 29 March 2011; Christine Pahlman, Mine Action Coordinator, AusAID, 11 July 2011; Lt.-Col. Klaus Koppetsch, Desk Officer Mine Action, German Federal Foreign Office, 18 April 2011; Alma Ni Choigligh Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Section, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, 31 March 2011; Belgium Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2011; Belgium Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 27 January 2011; letter from Markku Virri, Arms Control Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland, 10 March 2011; Netherland Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2010), Form J; email from Tessa van der Sande, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to IKV Pax Christi, 29 March 2011; and US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2011,” Washington, DC, July 2011.
[3] US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety 2011,” Washington, DC, July 2011; letter from Markku Virri, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland, 10 March 2011; response to Monitor questionnaire by Ingunn Vatne, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27 April 2011; Netherlands Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2010), Form J; and email from Tessa van der Sande, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to IKV Pax Christi, 29 March 2011.
[4] UN, “2011 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, March 2011, p. 178.
[5] Office of the Inspector General, US Department of State, “Inspection of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs in Iraq,” Report No. ISP-I-10-41, June 2010, p. 3, oig.state.gov.
[6] Average exchange rate for 2010: US$1=SEK7.2053; A$1=US$0.92; US$1=NOK6.0451; and €1=US$1.3261. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.
[7] See ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Iraq: Support for Mine Action,” www.the-monitor.org, 7 October 2011.
Send us your feedback on this profile
Send the Monitor your feedback by filling out this form. Responses will be channeled to editors, but will not be available online. Click if you would like to send an attachment. If you are using webmail, send attachments to .