Western Hemisphere

Total U.S. conventional weapons destruction funding in the Western Hemisphere fromall U.S. agencies, 1993–2016: more than $107 million

While the past 35 years have seen improving political and economic trends throughout Latin America, criminal violence and illegal narcotics and arms trafficking continue, despite law enforcement’s best efforts. U.S. CWD efforts are crucial in helping the region stem the threat of violence and illicit weapons trafficking.

In 2016, the historic peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) led to collaboration on demining efforts, further reducing risks from mine and UXO contamination. As Latin America continues to make political progress, the region can focus more on humanitarian demining and building CWD capacity.

Since 1993, U.S. CWD efforts have invested more than $107 million in regional support to Latin American countries. The funds have chiefly focused on mine clearance and curbing SA/LW trafficking. These activities are vital to promote stability, security, and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.

The OAS accredits NPA deminers in Colombia.

Photo courtesy of NPA.

COLOMBIA

More than 50 years of conflict between the government of Colombia and the FARC, Colombia’s largest guerrilla movement, has resulted in widespread mine and UXO contamination. Colombia has recorded more than 11,000 mines and UXO casualties since 1990. Although this number remains among the highest recorded in the world, the annual number of mine and UXO casualties has continually decreased since 2007. For instance, in 2016, Colombia’s National Mine Action Authority (DAICMA) received reports of 84 casualties involving mines, IEDs, and UXO, compared to 222 in 2015. The most affected departments are Antioquia, Meta, Caquetá, Nariño, Norte de Santander, and Tolima.

As a result of the dialogue between the Colombian government and the FARC, in February 2016 the United States announced the Global Demining Initiative for Colombia, jointly led by Norway, intended to rally the international community to help Colombia meet its Ottawa Convention commitment to being mine free by 2021. Throughout the year donor countries met to discuss ways of supporting the Colombian mine action sector. The effort culminated with the United States and Norway co-hosting the Global Demining Initiative for Colombia Pledging Conference ministerial at the United Nations General Assembly. With Colombian President Santos in attendance, the United States, Norway, the European Union, and 19 other nations pledged more than $107 million to support Colombia’s mine action efforts. In November 2016, peace negotiations between the FARC and the Colombian government concluded and ratification of the final accord resulted in the clearance and then hand-over of two hazardous areas.

From 2001 to 2016, the United States invested more than $54.1 million to support CWD in Colombia, including clearance, risk education, technical assistance, equipping the Colombian Brigada, and survivor assistance programs.

In 2016, the Department of State supported the following implementing partners:

• HALO continued demining in southeast Antioquia and expanded survey and clearance operations into Meta.

• NPA received demining accreditation and played a critical role in coordinating the peace gestures in El Orejon and Vista Hermosa. In addition, NPA embedded an expert within DAICMA to strengthen DAICMA’s information management database expertise.

• The Organization of American States (OAS) provided equipment and support to military humanitarian demining units, conducted quality assurance and quality control verifications over both civilian and military operations, and supported DAICMA with technical expertise.

• FSD provided technical expertise to DAICMA to further develop national capacity.

• Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas, Colombia’s first national demining nongovernmental organization, carried out clearance work in Vista Hermosa.

• Polus assisted victims from landmine incidents by providing prostheses and connecting them with the appropriate Colombian health services.

• SoS organized community sporting events as a mine risk education method to warn children of the risks associated with mines and UXO.

• GICHD coordinated and managed the Forum of Experts in which donor representatives, Colombian officials, and nongovernmental partners met to discuss mine action efforts.

With funding from the Department of Defense:

• HD R&D provided support to HALO for mine clearance in Colombia. HD R&D and HALO also tested the dual sensor HSTAMIDS mine detector.

• U.S. Southern Command conducted train-the-trainer courses for Colombian military humanitarian demining instructors on faculty and curriculum development, training of survey teams, accreditation of the Colombian military’s International Demining Training Center, and training and equipping of manual demining personnel.

USAID’s Leahy War Victims Fund supported World Vision to strengthen rehabilitation services, including the provision of assistive products, and promote socioeconomic opportunities for civilians affected by conflict and other persons with disabilities. The Fund also supported Fundación Arcangeles to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly victims of the armed conflict, through sport and economic empowerment and International Organization for Migration efforts to improve access to rehabilitation services in areas particularly affected by the armed conflict.

Golden West demonstrates proper munitions disposal to potential EOD candidates in Peru.

Photo courtesy of Department of State.

PERU

Peruvian stockpiles contain a significant amount of excess and obsolete weapons and ordnance stemming from the military build-up that resulted from the 1990s border dispute with Ecuador. In addition, the harsh weather conditions increase the risk of unplanned depot explosions, raising the importance of depot maintenance.

From 1999 to 2016, the United States invested more than $24 million to support CWD in Peru, including SA/LW threat reduction and humanitarian mine action.

In 2016, the Department of State supported the following implementing partner:

• Golden West deployed to northeast Peru to stabilize three depots and mitigate the risk of unplanned explosions.

Golden West also partnered with Peruvian soldiers to dispose of 38 tons of excess and obsolete munitions in separate locations. The team trained 35 soldiers in basic range safety and demolition practices.

OTHER U.S. SUPPORT

The United States provided $550,000 for CWD activities in other Western Hemisphere countries:

With funding from the Department of Defense, HD R&D continued management and operational support for mine clearance in Chile. The Chilean National Demining Commission is evaluating HD R&D’s technology in its operations to clear antipersonnel and anti-vehicle mines from a dry riverbed in northern Chile. The technology includes a Quadcopter aerial monitoring system for mission planning and supervision, a Mine Clearing Loader providing high volume suspect soil screening, a Multi-Tooled Excavator and two Air Spade (R) demining digging tools. HD R&D’s partners have used its technologies in the clearance of 11,500 mines from 147,000 cubic meters of soil since 2007.