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Summary
This document summarises mine action activities funded by Australia from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, in line with the Mine Action Strategy for the Australian aid program 2010–2014.
Description
This document summarises mine action activities funded by Australia
from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, in line with the Mine Action Strategy for
the Australian aid program 2010–2014.
This publication is also available in the following formats:
Australia's Mine Action Activities 2009-10 [PDF 3.5mb]
- Introduction
- Overview of Australian funding for mine action 2009–10
- Country-specific mine action
- Global mine action
Introduction
Voice from the field
Keophimpa Chansima, an unexploded ordnance deminer, supervises a
team of ten people clearing unexploded ordnance in Attapeu province, Lao
People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Tools of her trade include a metal
detector, shovel, wire cutters, electrical wire, detonators, explosives and
an exploder.
'Every day I see how people suffer from the unexploded ordnance
contamination in and around their villages. There are many accidents and
injuries caused by them,' said Keophimpa. This prompted her to apply for
a job as a deminer in 1999 with UXO Lao, the national clearance agency
supported by the United Nations Development Programme, with funding
by Australia and other partners.
Ten years later, Keophimpa was promoted to Team Leader. As an Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Technician Level 3 she can safely handle, remove
and destroy all types of unexploded ordnance, including sub-munitions,
mortar shells, artillery rounds, grenades and white phosphorous, with the
exception of aircraft bombs.
When asked about her future plans, Keophimpa said 'I want to continue
working for UXO Lao until unexploded ordnance clearance operations are
finally over in Lao PDR. I want Lao people to live their lives in safety.'
Photo: Courtesy Komuniti Tok Piksa, Goroka, PNG
Landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war
remain a significant barrier to development in many of the world's poorest
countries. These devices kill and injure civilians long after war and conflict
has ended and undermine the economic potential of affected areas.
In November 2009, Australia launched its new Mine Action Strategy for
the Australian aid program 2010–2014 with a $100 million commitment
to work towards a world free from landmines, cluster munitions and
other explosive remnants of war. The strategy builds on the $175 million
Australia has contributed to mine action over the previous 12 years.
Australia delivers a broad range of practical, effective mine action
programs, from grassroot village projects to high-level international
advocacy. Australia's aid helps clear landmines, cluster munitions and
other explosive remnants of war. It also provides support to victims and
their affected families and communities, rebuilds livelihoods, restores
the environment and promotes economic development. The programs are
administered in partnership with other governments, non-government
organisations, multilateral organisations and civil society.
In 2009–10, Australia provided almost $30 million to support mine action
activities in Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Lao People's
Democratic Republic (PDR), Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Uganda and Vietnam.
Australia is also an active player internationally and continued to meet its international commitments to advocate for universal adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their destruction (known as the Mine Ban Convention) as well as the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. Australia provided $2 million to fund global advocacy, research and universalisation activities of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Geneva Call and the United Nations VoluntaryTrust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action Service.
Australia played a leading role in bringing the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions into effect and was one of the first countries to sign the convention. Australia is now working with partner countries on its implementation. Lao PDR, a country severely affected by cluster munitions, received funding from Australia to enable it to take a lead role in mobilising support for the convention, including hosting its first meeting in November 2010.
Overview of Australian funding for mine action 2009–10
Lebanon
$500,000–Mine clearance
Iraq
$3 million–Mine clearance, mine risk reduction
Afghanistan
$5 million–Mine clearance, mine risk reduction, victim assistance
Palestinian Territories
$1 million–Mine clearance
Sudan
$1.5 million–Mine clearance, mine risk education
Burundi
$52,000–Victim assistance
Uganda
$1.05 million–Mine clearance, victim assistance
Jordan
$1 million–Mine clearance
Lao PDR
$2 million–Mine action management and capacity building, victim assistance, mine clearance, advocacy
Vietnam
$500,000–Victim assistance
Cambodia
$5.6 million–Mine clearance, vistim assistance, mine risk education
Sri Lanka
$6.9 million–Mine clearance, mine risk education
Global mine action
$2.05 million–Advocacy, universalisation, research
Country-specific mine action
Afghanistan
Community Clearpath Program
Funding: $5 million (2009–11)
Partner: Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan
Australia is supporting the Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan, one of the largest global mine action programs in the world, to undertake community-based mine action clearance in Khost and Uruzgan provinces. In 2009–10, demining teams cleared 638,855 square metres of land in Khost and 244,356 square meters of land in Uruzgan.
The support is also contributing to national efforts by the Centre to assist victims and coordinate mine action efforts. Mine risk education was provided to 6252 people in Khost and Uruzgan. The Australian contribution also strengthened rehabilitation services provided by the Ministry of Public Health and trained 20 physiotherapists through the Physiotherapy Institute in Kabul.
Afghanistan is one of the
most heavily contaminated
countries for landmines and
other explosive remnants of
war. In January 2010, Australia
announced further funding
of $20 million to support
demining, mine risk education
and victim assistance
programs in Afghanistan
including in Uruzgan province.
Burundi
Enhanced Landmine Victim Assistance under the Cartagena Action Plan
Funding: $52,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Australia supported the Implementation Support Unit of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention to convene a national workshop to
raise awareness of Burundi's obligations in relation to victim assistance.
Australian funding will enable the review of strategies for effectiveimplementation and sustainability of victim assistance, and facilitated progress in the development of national victim assistance plans.
Burundi has a small residual
threat from mines and
explosive remnants of war.
Burundi has requested
international assistance to
improve its victim assistance.
Cambodia
Landmine Survivor Assistance
Funding: $2.3 million (total funding $4.8 million, 2007–12)
Partner: Australian Red Cross
The program supports non-government organisations to provide
service, and advocate on behalf of, people who have a disability
caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war. In 2009–10
eleven non-government organisations received funding to provide these
services. Funding was also provided to the Cambodian Red Cross to
undertake landmine and unexploded ordnances risk education and
support communities in high risk areas.
The program is also assisting the Cambodian Government develop and
implement a National Plan of Action for People with Disabilities including
landmine and explosive remnants of war survivors. A national disability
advisor was engaged to work in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans,
and Youth Rehabilitation to assist in the implementation of the Action
Plan and a new law which protects the rights of people with disability.
Clearing for Results
Funding: $2 million (total funding $14 million, 2006–10)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
Australia continued its funding to this multi-donor mine clearance project which is supporting Cambodia's mine clearance efforts. Support is directed to priority mine clearance tasks identified in the national and provincial development programs. The program is also improving the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority's capacity to coordinate, manage and regulate mine action work. The program has improved donor coordination and strengthened the Cambodian Government system and processes.
Integrated Mine Action and Development in Banteay Meanchey Province
Funding: $526,000 (total funding $3.1 million, 2006–10)
Partner: ActionAID
The program has improved the lives of people in mine-affected villages in Banteay Meanchey. This was achieved through clearing mines; building the capacity of commune councils and farmer groups to make decisions about mine clearance and land use; and providing water, infrastructure and support to affected villages and landmine survivors.
Community Strengthening and Gender Mainstreaming in Integrated
Mine Action
Funding: $416,000 (total funding $3.1 million, 2006–10)
Partner: World Vision and International Women's Development Agency
The project helped meet the immediate needs of mine-affected communities in Battambang and Preah Vihear provinces and incorporated gender into mine action activities (including in Cambodia's National Mine Action Strategy 2010–2020). Project activities included clearing mines, improving the ability of local government and community-based organisations to help mine-affected communities, providing mine risk education (including to youth and youth at risk), providing assistance to landmine survivors and supporting livelihood and agriculture development activities.
Australia–Cambodia Integrated Mine Action in Pailin Province
Funding: $385,000 (total funding $3 million, 2006–10)
Partner: CARE Australia
The project has assisted people living in Pailin who were vulnerable to landmines, unexploded ordnances and natural disasters. The project focused on clearing land, making land accessible to poor communities and supporting sustainable land use. To date 80.6 hectares have been cleared for resettlement, schools roads and canals. The project also worked
with the local government to improve the delivery of services. Mine risk education has directly benefitted 1444 people in 20 villages.
Cambodia Mine Action Art Exhibition
Funding: $18,000 (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
The program raised awareness of mine action through an art exhibition exposing the devastation caused by landmines in Cambodia. The exhibition was shown in Cambodia and at the Second Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Colombia.
Cambodia is one of the countries most severely affected by landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
Iraq
Mine Action Operational Capacity Development
Funding: $2.5 million (total funding $5 million, 2010–12)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
The program will improve the quality of life for victims and communities affected by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Twenty four million square metres of land will be cleared and made accessible, allowing for improvements to social and economic infrastructure. Through the project rehabilitation services, prostheses, vocational training and employment opportunities for victims are being provided.
Protecting Children from Injuries Related to Landmines and other Explosives
Funding: $500,000 (total funding $1 million, 2010–11)
Partner: United Nations Children's Fund
The project will support the Government of Iraq to improve its mine action planning and integrate mine risk education into the national mine action strategy and the new national development plan. It will also help the Government to protect children from being injured by landmines and other explosives, through mine risk education and information campaigns for teachers, health workers and community members. A national injury surveillance service to help rehabilitate mine victims and survivors and reintegrate them into the community is also being established.
Iraq is highly contaminated with landmines, explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions. The country is limited in its ability to address the challenges of contamination, including providing services to victims.
Jordan
Northern Border Mine Clearance Project
Funding: $1 million (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
The project is assisting Jordan clear all contaminated land along its northern border with Syria. Australian funds have purchased three mine detection machines, ten mine detection dogs and cover the work of eighteen deminer teams. To date, 104 kilometres of land along the Jordan–Syria border have been cleared of an estimated 136,000 landmines.
Jordan is contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war mostly concentrated around the Syria and Jordan Valley border.
Lao PDR
Capacity Building to Address the Unexploded Ordnance Threat and Risk
Funding: $1.2 million (total funding $2.5 million, 2010–11)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
Australian support is building the capacity of the UXO Lao, the government's national clearance agency, as well as the National Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the threat and risk of unexploded ordnance. Funding has also been provided to assist the Government host the first Meeting of State Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions to be held in November 2010. An international treaty support unit has also been established.
Reducing Unexploded Ordnance Risk and Improving the Livelihoods of
Ethnic Communities in Sekong Province
Funding: $453,000 (total funding $3 million, 2007–12)
Partner: CARE Australia
Australian assistance is improving the livelihood and reducing the vulnerability of 20 disadvantaged ethnic communities affected by unexploded ordnance in Sekong province. The project focuses on community planning, clearing mines, allocating land use and educating communities on risk. To date, 26 hectares of land have been cleared, benefitting 257 households. Three villages previously vulnerable to unexploded ordnances have improved livelihoods by expanding agricultural activities.
Integrated Unexploded Ordnance Action in Khammouane Province
Funding: $396,000 (total funding $2 million, 2009–14)
Partner: World Vision
The project is helping reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of
24 villages impacted by unexploded ordnance in the Mahaxay District,
Khammouane province. Through this project affected communities are
being assisted to mitigate and manage livelihood risks such as food
insecurity. Between January and June 2010, over 970,000 square meters of
land were cleared and 127 unexploded ordnances destroyed, benefitting
4478 people in 10 villages.
Lao PDR is the country most affected by cluster munitions in the world, and all of its seventeen provinces are contaminated
with unexploded ordnance. An estimated 25 per cent of the country's 10,000 plus villages are contaminated at some level. It is, per capita, the most heavily bombed country in the world.
Lebanon
Clearance of Unexploded Ordnance
Funding: $500,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Mines Advisory Group
Australian funding helped clear unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions in southern Lebanon following the 2006 war. Funding supported three mine action teams to clear approximately 239 200 square metres of land for community use.
Lebanon is contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, especially cluster munitions. The
2006
Israel – Hezbollah War resulted in heavy contamination in southern Lebanon.
Palestinian Territories
Unexploded Ordnance and Explosive Remnants of War Management
and Clearance
Funding: $1 million (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Mine Action Team
Australia provided funding through the United Nations Mine Action Team to remove contamination resulting from Israel's Operation Cast Lead (December 2008 to January 2009). Funding contributed to the demolition of more than 70 unexploded ordnances in southern Gaza. It was also used to assess the risks of more than 1600 sites before rubble was removed and roads rehabilitated.
The Palestinian Territories are contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Sri Lanka
Procurement of Demining Equipment–Mullaitivu District
Funding: $2.7 million (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
Australian funding purchased demining equipment, including five mini
flails, to improve the work of the government's Humanitarian Demining
Unit operating in Mullaitivu district.
Humanitarian Mine Action in Northern Sri Lanka
Funding: $1.3 million (2009–10)
Partner: Fondation Suisse de Deminage
Australian support helped reduce the threat of unexploded ordnances in northern Sri Lanka by recruiting, training and equipping 80 deminers and establishing mine risk education and geographical information systems teams. Through this project approximately 5000 anti-personnel landmines, one anti-tank mine and 83 unexploded ordnances were removed from more than 450,000 square metres of land. This facilitated the return of 18,500 internally displaced persons.
Procurement of Demining Equipment–Northern Province
Funding: $922,000 (2009–10)
Partner: International Organisation for Migration
Australian funding was used to supply 220 metal detectors to
the Sri Lankan Government's Humanitarian Demining Unit and
safety equipment for use in mine-affected areas throughout the
northern province.
Demining Coordination and Technical Assistance
Funding: $800,000 (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
Australia's contribution provided technical assistance, coordination support
and improved the capacity of the Sri Lankan Government to clear mines.
The support enabled the Sri Lankan Government to prioritise mine
clearance areas and assign them to its demining units and non-government
organisation deminers. It also enabled operational checks for compliance
with Sri Lanka's national mine action standards and helped the Sri Lankan
Government establish the National Mine Action Centre, which is managing
and coordinating the national mine action program.
Emergency Demining
Funding: $700,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Mines Advisory Group
Support was provided to two technical survey teams and two mine action
teams to survey suspected hazardous areas and clear mines in the northern
province. Through this project more than 508,000 square meters of land
were cleared, benefitting more than 5000 internally displaced persons.
Emergency Demining
Funding: $290,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Danish Demining Group
This project has removed mines from the Elephant Pass Saltern Complex in
Kilinochchi and cleared 2744 square meters of land.
Mine Risk Education
Funding: $200,000 (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Children's Fund
The project provided mine risk education to affected communities in the
north of Sri Lanka. Participants included internally displaced people
living in camps and people who had returned to their homes following
Sri Lanka's recent conflict. More than 250,000 people participated. This
contributed to a significant reduction in the monthly mine casualty rate
from 12.5 in 2002–08 to 2.5 in 2009–10.
More than 30 years of conflict in Sri Lanka has left the northern province contaminated with landmines, unexploded ordnances
and improvised explosive devices. Following the end of conflict in May 2009, more than 280,000 displaced people were accommodated in internal displacement in northern Sri Lanka. In November 2009, Australia announced support for demining in Sri Lanka through a five year commitment of $20 million. Australia's funding will facilitate the safe return of internally displaced people and will support the implementation of reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.
Sudan
Mine Risk Education
Funding: $1 million (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Children's Fund
Through this program 100,000 people, including internally displaced
persons and returnees, have been educated on risk behaviour in mine
and unexploded ordnance-affected communities. This program helped
integrate mine risk education into the broader education system through
training and school-based activities and strengthened the capacity of the
Southern Sudan Demining Authority.
Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Survey and Clearance Operations in
Southern Sudan
Funding: $500,000 (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Mine Action Service
Australian funding supported the Mine Action Service complete mine clearance activities in high priority areas in southern Sudan. This project cleared land and released cleared land back to communities for socioeconomic activities such as farming, grazing, house construction and rebuilding shelters for women and children. It also supported the transition of the National Mine Action Authorities to assume mine action roles and responsibilities in Sudan.
Sudan is contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, primarily as a result of more than 20 years of struggle between the Government of Sudan and non-state armed groups in the south.
Uganda
Building National Mine Action Capacity
Funding: $1 million (2009–10)
Partner: Danish Demining Group
Australian support assisted the Government of Uganda fulfil its obligations
under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. This project strengthened
Uganda's mine action operations, increased the amount of land released
for development and facilitated the return of internally displaced people to
their homes.
Enhanced Landmine Victim Assistance Support to Facilitate Progress Toward
the Cartagena Action Plan
Funding: $52,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Australia supported the Implementation Support Unit of the
Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention to convene a national workshop to
raise awareness of Uganda's obligations in relation to victim assistance. Australian funding will enable the review of strategies for effective
implementation and sustainability of victim assistance, and facilitated
progress in the development of national victim assistance plans.
Uganda is contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war as a result of decades of armed conflict and civil strife. Uganda still faces many challenges in implementing victim assistance due to competing priorities within government and the need for technical capacity.
Vietnam
Special Fund for People with Disability
Funding: $500,000 (2009–10)
Partner: International Committee of the Red Cross
Australian funding supported the International Committee of the Red
Cross' special fund for people with disability. The fund was used to
improve services provided by physical rehabilitation centres for people
with disability.
Vietnam is heavily contaminated with explosive remnants of war, mainly unexploded ordnances and cluster munitions. Rehabilitation services for the estimated 100,000 survivors of war remain difficult to access in some parts of the country, particularly in rural and mountainous areas.
Global mine action
Special Fund for the Disabled
Funding: $500,000 (2009–10)
Partner: International Committee of the Red Cross
Australian funding supported the International Committee of the Red
Cross' 2010 Special Fund for the Disabled. This fund provides physical
rehabilitation services in low-income countries and emergency assistance
and protection to those affected by conflict and complex emergencies.
Maintaining and increasing access to quality rehabilitation services is a priority.
Mine Ban Convention Advocacy
Funding: $500,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
This funding supported the work of the Centre including its Mine Ban
Convention Implementation Support Unit, the sponsorship fund and the
Landmine Victim Assistance Expert position. It also provided operational
support to activities linking mine action to development in Cambodia,
Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.
Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action
Funding: $300,000 (2009–10)
Partner: United Nations Mine Action Service
Australian funding supported the United Nations Mine Action Service,
the United Nations focal point for mine action. The Service collaborates
with other United Nations bodies to provide coordinated responses to the
problems presented by landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
Australian funding gave the service flexibility to respond to emergencies
and country-specific mine action needs.
Landmine Monitor Report 2010
Funding: $300,000 (2009–10)
Partner: International Campaign to Ban Landmines
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines was supported to develop
and publish the 2010 edition of the Landmine Monitor Report. This report
outlines the global landmine problem, including the use, production,
transfer and stockpile of landmines. It tracks the number of new landmine
casualties and recorded progress in mine clearance, mine risk education
and victim assistance.
Geneva Call Asia
Funding: $200,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Geneva Call
Australia supported Geneva Call, an international humanitarian
organisation, to undertake advocacy work in Asia to increase adherence
to the Mine Ban Convention. As of June 2010, 12 non-state actors had
banned the use of anti-personnel mines in the Asia-Pacific region by
signing Geneva Call's Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban
on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action.
Victim Assistance
Funding: $134,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Australia supported the parallel program for victim assistance experts to
run concurrently with the June 2010 Meeting of the Standing Committee
and the 10th meeting of the State Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban
Convention. The funding was also used to produce a training course
and guide on victim assistance covering disability, development and
human rights.
Universal Adherence to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Asia-Pacific
Funding: $60,000 (2009–10)
Partner: Cluster Munitions Coalition
This funding supported an advocacy project to promote universal
adherence to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the Asia-Pacific
region. The project ran workshops to promote ratification of, and gain
additional signatories to the Convention in time for the First Meeting of the
States Parties in November 2010.
Universalisation in the Pacific
Funding: $60,000 (2009–10)
Partner: International Campaign to Ban Landmines
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines was supported to
undertake mine ban advocacy in the Pacific. The project encouraged
governments in the Pacific to accede to the Mine Ban Convention,
promoted universalisation of the convention and raised awareness of
landmine and unexploded ordnance issues.