(With extra pictures) One of the primary tasks of the EU Naval Force (EU NavFor) Somalia Operation Atalanta is the protection of World Food Programme (WFP) ships and other vulnerable shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean.
Before 2012, all WFP ships carrying aid to Somalia were escorted by EU NavFor warships. Since mid 2012 some WFP vessels have been protected by an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), with the EU NavFor providing an armed security team on board, instead of providing a warship as an escort.
As a result of this successful cooperation, not one WFP ship has been attacked by pirates, so all aid, 880,000 tonnes, has been successfully delivered to the Somali people.
MV Caroline Scan
Currently most of the WFP deliveries are conducted by the time chartered vessel, MV Caroline Scan and since 2011 MV Caroline Scan has delivered over 127,000 tonnes of aid. MV Caroline Scan is currently being protected by a Serbian Forces AVPD.
According to the WFP, in 2011 over four million people experienced extreme food insecurity, with famine blighting many regions of the south.
Picture: Before 2012, all WFP ships carrying aid to Somalia were escorted by EU Naval Force warships. Since mid 2012 some WFP vessels have been protected by an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), with the EU Naval Force providing an armed security team on board, instead of providing a warship as an escort.
The album below contains more pictures. Please click the pop-out link (the little squares at the bottom right) to view them in their proper dimensions. All pictures by EU NavFor.
