From late January onward, the Netherlands will deploy a military security team on board a World Food Programme ship of the United Nations.
The team will protect humanitarian aid transports to Somalia against piracy. The Council of Ministers agreed as much on 23 December.The security team will be deployed as part of Atalanta, the counterpiracy mission of the EU, which also provides protection to food transports.
Due to the famine in Somalia, the need for emergency aid and, with it, the need for this type of transport has trebled in the last few months.
Up to now, these transports were escorted by navy vessels.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, January 4, 2012; Image: Defensie