EU Naval Force Dutch frigate, HNLMS Van Speijk, has escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coast to keep it safe from a potential pirate attack. The WFP ship was carrying food such as soya, cooking oil and flour from Mombasa in Kenya to the Somali port of Kismayo. The food will now be distributed to displaced people in Somalia, who have suffered from drought and food shortages.
The crew of the WFP Vessel was thankful for the protection by the Dutch frigate during their 280 nautical mile transit.
The protection of WFP vessels delivering aid to displaced persons in Somalia is one of the key tasks of Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy mission.
Since the EU Naval Force was launched in December 2008, it has ensured the safe delivery of over 920,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid.