MV Petra I was transiting Somali territorial waters when she met with EU NAVFOR. EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta has its core business to support World Food Programme vessels and it is its main goal to ensure their safety on their humanitarian mission.
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Fielder, Spokesperson for EU NAVFOR said of this latest interaction:
It is important to tell the Op Atalanta story to the International community to show how valuable our work is. Not only can we prevent and disrupt pirate behaviour we can also protect delivery of such vital aid to those who need it most.
ITS Martinengo Commanding Officer, Commander Andrea Quondamatteo noted that positive communications was established between Martinengo and Petra 1.
According to WFP, as of May 2018, 2.7 million people cannot meet their daily food requirements today and require urgent humanitarian assistance, with more than half a million on the brink of famine. Another 2.7 million Somalis need livelihood support to keep from sliding into crisis. An estimated 300,000 children under age 5 are malnourished, including 48,000 who are severely malnourished and face a high risk of disease and death.
Almost 1.8 million tonnes of food aid have reached the Somali people through the direct protection from European Union Naval Forces over the last 10 years and this is due to continue for at least another two years after the Operation Atalanta mandate was extended to December 2020.
EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta contributes to the prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. The operation is part of the EU’s approach for a peaceful Somalia.
