Belgium
Support for Mine Action
In 2014, the Kingdom of Belgium contributed €2,378,028 (US$3,162,064)—relatively the same as in 2013—in mine action funding to 10 recipients, including six states and one other area.[1]
Belgium contributed three-quarters of its total funding in 2014 to the ICRC, Mozambique, and Palestine.
In addition to financial support, Belgium provided in-kind assistance valued at €2,450,000 ($3,257,765) to support clearance operations in Lebanon and Afghanistan.[2] Belgium has also provided financial support to a variety of research projects. Since 1997, it has supported a research project on the use of rats in mine detection conducted by the NGO APOPO and the University of Antwerp. Belgium also reported contributing to the TIRAMISU project that aims at providing a cost-effective toolbox to help addressing issues related to humanitarian demining.[3]
Contributions by recipient: 2014[4]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
|
ICRC |
Victim assistance |
1,000,000 |
1,329,700 |
|
Mozambique |
Clearance |
510,000 |
678,147 |
|
Palestine |
Various |
250,000 |
332,425 |
|
Afghanistan |
Clearance |
240,000 |
319,128 |
|
Colombia |
Victim assistance |
130,000 |
172,861 |
|
Global |
Advocacy |
87,500 |
116,349 |
|
Peru |
Victim assistance |
60,000 |
79,782 |
|
Kosovo |
Clearance |
50,528 |
67,187 |
|
Lao PDR |
Clearance |
50,000 |
66,485 |
|
Total |
|
2,378,028 |
3,162,064 |
Belgium contributed half of its funding to victim assistance through the Organization of American States (OAS) for activities in Peru, Handicap International for activities in Colombia, and the ICRC for global activities.
Contributions by thematic sector: 2014
|
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
% of total contribution |
|
Victim assistance |
1,190,000 |
1,582,343 |
50 |
|
Clearance |
850,528 |
1,130,947 |
36 |
|
Various |
250,000 |
332,425 |
10 |
|
Advocacy |
87,500 |
116,349 |
4 |
|
Total |
2,378,028 |
3,162,064 |
100 |
Since 2010, Belgium’s annual contributions to mine action have fallen considerably from €9 million ($11.9 million) to €2.4 million ($3.2 million), although its contributions have remained stable for the last two years.
This reflects the fact that Belgium cut its aid budget in 2012 (13% decrease) and 2013 (6.1% decrease), thus affecting funding for mine action.[5]
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[6]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount ($) |
% change from previous year ($) |
|
2014 |
2,378,028 |
3,162,064 |
2 |
|
2013 |
2,273,060 |
3,097,547 |
-57 |
|
2012 |
5,592,222 |
7,191,039 |
-12 |
|
2011 |
5,843,386 |
8,140,421 |
-32 |
|
2010 |
9,006,972 |
11,944,146 |
15 |
|
Total |
25,093,668 |
33,535,217 |
N/A |
Note: N/A = not applicable
[1] Average exchange rate for 2014: €1=US$1.3297. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[2] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, May 2015.
[3] Convention on Conventional Weapons Protocol II Annual Report, 31 March 2015.
[4] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, May 2015.
[5] OECD, “Aid to developing countries rebounds in 2013 to reach an all-time high,” 8 April 2014; and “Aid to poor countries slips further as governments tighten budgets,” 3 April 2013.
[6] See previous Monitor reports.