EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

“After nearly three decades of political and economic instability, Somalia continues to be on a positive trajectory with significant progress made since the re-establishment of the Federal Government in 2012. However, the country continues to struggle with recurrent food and nutrition crises, widespread insecurity, political instability, underdeveloped infrastructure, and natural hazards such as drought and floods.” Source World Food Programme (WFP) Somalia Country Brief October 2018 https://goo.gl/n1MWtu.

One of EU NAVFOR’s mandated tasks is to provide protection to WFP ships that bring food aid to Somalia and a key capability is the Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) who are embarked to act as the ship’s guard force. EU NAVFOR has ensured the delivery of nearly 1.8 million tonnes of food aid to the ports of Somalia.

Serbia has recently taken over the role from Croatia on 4^th December at a ceremony in Djibouti. On the 5^th December, the Serbians immediately sailed with WFP cargo destined for Somalia. Read more here: https://adobe.ly/2EumFB6