Iraq
Support for Mine Action
In 2016, 16 donors contributed a total of US$79.7 million for mine action activities to the Republic of Iraq.[1]
The United States (US) and Germany provided the largest contributions with a combined total of $49.3 million, which represents more than 60% of the total international mine action assistance in Iraq for 2016. In addition, seven donors provided more than $1 million each: Japan, Denmark, Norway, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), and the Netherlands.
Only Germany and Austria reported supporting victim assistance activities, with a combined total of $1.3 million (2% of total funding).
As in previous years, the government of Iraq, the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency, the Regional Mine Action Center in Basra, and the General Directorate of Mine Action did not report making any financial contributions to Iraq’s mine action program in 2016.
In July 2016, Canada, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, and the US co-hosted a pledging conference in support of Iraq; among the issues addressed during the conference were funding requirements for demining. Over $80 million in new support was pledged by Australia ($3.8 million), Canada ($3.1 million), Egypt (technical support), Finland ($5.5 million), Germany ($16.5 million), the Netherlands ($11.1 million), Spain (technical support), and the US ($45 million).[2]
International contributions: 2016[3]
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount (US$) |
US |
Clearance and risk education |
$30,945,000 |
30,945,000 |
Germany |
Clearance and victim assistance |
€16,660,000 |
18,445,952 |
Japan |
Clearance and risk education |
¥645,940,236 |
5,944,600 |
Denmark |
Clearance |
DKK33,500,000 |
4,979,487 |
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK41,650,000 |
4,962,114 |
Australia |
Clearance |
AU$5,000,000 |
3,722,500 |
Canada |
Clearance |
C$4,513,425 |
3,408,159 |
UK |
Clearance |
£2,226,822 |
3,018,457 |
Netherlands |
Clearance and risk education |
€1,485,289 |
1,644,512 |
European Union |
Risk education |
€714,763 |
791,386 |
Austria |
Victim assistance |
€500,000 |
553,600 |
Italy |
Clearance and risk education |
€500,000 |
553,600 |
Belgium |
Clearance and risk education |
€500,000 |
553,600 |
Luxembourg |
Clearance |
€50,448 |
55,856 |
South Korea |
Various |
N/R |
50,000 |
Czech Republic |
Clearance |
€45,000 |
49,824 |
Total |
79,678,647 |
Note: N/R = not reported.
Since 2012, international assistance toward mine action activities in Iraq totaled almost $235 million, and has more than doubled throughout the period from $34 million in 2012 to more than $79 million in 2016.
Summary of contributions: 2012–2016[4]
Year |
International contributions (US$) |
% change from previous year |
2016 |
79,678,647 |
+54 |
2015 |
51,887,158 |
+44 |
2014 |
36,012,987 |
+8 |
2013 |
33,217,587 |
-2 |
2012 |
33,994,996 |
-1 |
Total |
234,791,375 |
[1] Australia, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; Austria, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, June 2017; Belgium, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; Canada, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 21 July 2017; Czech Republic, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 25 April 2017; response to Monitor questionnaire by Ditte Bjerregaard, Head of Section, Stabilization and Security Policy, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2017; Germany, Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Amended Protocol II Annual Report, Form E, and annex, 31 March 2017; Italy, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 20 April 2017; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; responses to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Braun, Disarmament Desk, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, 13 March 2017, and by Olivia Douwes, Policy Officer, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017; email from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2017; South Korea, CCW Amended Protocol II Annual Report, Form B, 26 April 2017; United Kingdom (UK), Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; response to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, European External Action Service, 30 September 2017; and email from Steve Costner, Deputy Office Director, Weapons Removal and Abatement, United States (US) Department of State, 30 October 2017.
[2] Government of Canada, “Canada pledges humanitarian and stabilization support for Iraq,” 19 July 2016; statement by John Kerry, US Secretary of State, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Finland grants additional support to Iraq,” 20 July 2016; statement of Australia, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement of the Netherlands, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; statement of Egypt, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016; and statement of Spain, Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, Washington, DC, 20 July 2016.
[3] Average exchange rate for 2016: AU$0.7445=US$1; C$1.3243=US$1; DKK6.7276=US$1; €1=US$1.1072; NOK8.3936=US$1; £1=US$1.3555; ¥108.66=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2017.
[4] See previous Monitor reports. Totals for international support in 2015 and 2014 have been rectified as a result of revised US funding data.