One of EU NAVFOR’s key missions is to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels as they transit along the coastline of Somalia.
It is essential that much-needed food and other humanitarian aid get safely delivered to the Somali people without any delay.
EU NAVFOR has been protecting WFP vessels since December 2008 and since that time over 1,5 million tonnes of food aid has arrived safely in Somali ports.
EU NAVFOR can protect a WFP vessel from a potential pirate attack by providing a warship to escort the vessel along the coast, or by embarking a highly trained maritime protection team.
EU NAVFOR currently has a maritime protection team from Montenegro aboard WFP vessel, MV Esbjerg. When MV Esbjerg arrived in Berbera port recently the Montenegrin team helped WFP and MV Esbjerg crew to unload the precious cargo.