The government of the Netherlands has agreed to a request from the World Food Programme (WFP) to extend support to the WFP humanitarian operation and has sent frigate ‘De Ruyter’ to Somalia. This operation will allow safe shipment of life saving humanitarian assistance into Somalia. The Dutch frigate will execute its mission until mid-December.

With the deployment of the HMCS ‘De Ruyter’ the Netherlands is responding to calls from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the WFP to provide short-term maritime escort of humanitarian shipments to Somalia. The Canadian frigate currently protecting these transports will end its mission on October 23.

Without guidance, the maritime transport of humanitarian goods to Somalia may be attacked and/or hijacked by pirates. This year dozens of merchant and pleasure vessels have been attacked and more than a dozen of them have been hijacked.

Thanks to maritime escort of several countries, WFP shipments this year have arrived safely at their destination. From late March to late June 2008, the Netherlands have already successfully deployed HCMS ‘ Evertsen’ resulting in safe passage of more than 42,000 tons of humanitarian goods for Somalia.

At the moment, Dutch frigate HCMS ‘De Ruyter’ is taking over the duties of the Canadian frigate and will stay in the area until mid-December to protect WFP shipments. The European Union meanwhile is preparing for EU maritime exercises off the coast of Somalia, with a secondary focus on protection of humanitarian shipments. Decision-making at EU level on the start of this type of EU maritime operation is expected in the near future.

Due to the critical situation, NATO has offered some if its fleet-standing ships to help in the fight against piracy in Somalia. This will provide interim support until the maritime operations of the European Union can commence. The Netherlands welcomes a possible further deployment of NATO and will use the experience from its current and earlier deployment to assist NATO in any manner possible.

H.E. Wim Geerts, newly appointed Ambassador of the Netherlands to Canada: “With this commitment of the Dutch Navy, the Netherlands are continuing the excellent work of the Canadian Navy in protecting waters notorious for piracy. Hopefully, the European Union will be able to take over the task of humanitarian protection within the near future. With our experience earlier this year, the Netherlands are now able to act quickly and help out.”