EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Yesterday, 17 October 2010, the EU NAVFOR Dutch warship HNLMS AMSTERDAM successfully achieved the escort of the MV CAPTAIN SAÏD, chartered by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

The vessel, sailing under the flag of the Comoro Islands, was transporting a substantial amount of food aid for Somalia. HNLMS AMSTERDAM waited for the ship outside the port of Berbera and safely escorted it to the port of Boosaaso.

A total of 6,997 metric tons of maize, corn-soya blend, palm oil and flour were delivered onto the Somali shore.

It is EU NAVFOR’s priority mission to escort WFP merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid, along with vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

A considerable part of the Somali population is living in poverty and millions of people are dependent on the help offered by the international community. It is therefore of particular importance that these food transports arrive at their destination safely, without being targeted by pirates.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 95 WFP chartered vessels have already been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of 460,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.