Protecting World Food Programme (WFP) and vulnerable vessels in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden is one of Operation Atalanta’s key tasks. The WFP ship Petra II has an embarked EU NAVFOR security team, known as the Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), to ensure her valuable cargo of food-aid is protected en-route to Somalia.
EU NAVFOR is made up of over 20 countries, which have provided AVPD’s for WFP ships. A team of troops from the Croatian military currently guards Petra II; their presence helps the vital humanitarian aid get to the people of Somalia affected by drought and famine safely. Having the Croatian military fully integrated into Operation Atalanta, provides the protection that these ships need against the threat of piracy and strengthen maritime security in the region.
The use of AVPDs to protect WFP shipping is paramount for EU NAVFOR as it allows greater flexibility in the use of the warships in the fight against piracy, whilst providing the security of WFP shipments. To date nearly 1.8 million tonnes of WFP aid has been provided to the region.
EU NAVFOR is made up of over 20 countries, which have provided AVPD’s for WFP ships. A team of troops from the Croatian military currently guards Petra II; their presence helps the vital humanitarian aid get to the people of Somalia affected by drought and famine safely. Having the Croatian military fully integrated into Operation Atalanta, provides the protection that these ships need against the threat of piracy and strengthen maritime security in the region.
The use of AVPDs to protect WFP shipping is paramount for EU NAVFOR as it allows greater flexibility in the use of the warships in the fight against piracy, whilst providing the security of WFP shipments. To date nearly 1.8 million tonnes of WFP aid has been provided to the region.