WFP escort: The Dutch take over from the Canadians

(B2) The mission of the Dutch frigate "Hr Ms De Ruyter"began off the coast of Somalia, to ensure the protection of the World Food Program (WFP) boats. They are thus taking over from the Canadians.

A two-month mission

The ship should stay two months in the region to ensure the connection with the boats of the "EuNav" mission of the European Union. Defense Minister Van Middelkoop assured that the sailors would be back home by Christmas. However, if the EU were to delay in setting up its operation, some MEPs do not rule out that it could be extended by a few days or weeks, the time that the relay is ensured with the ships of the "EuNav" mission of the 'European Union. Hard to do less. In Somalia, more than three million people depend on humanitarian aid. And the WFP had - on several occasions - drawn international attention to the need to have its ships escorted (1).

Illegal fishing: Facts to check

The second chamber of the Dutch Parliament had authorized this contribution on Wednesday - which is the second in the Netherlands. With a nuance: Ewout Irrgang (SP, left) estimated - according to the Dutch press - that the mission had to fight against all acts of piracy including "those of Western ships". Indeed, he explains, boats "actively illegal fishing and toxic waste vessels". Information from a Somali source, judged "unreliable" by the Dutch Minister of Development, Koenders, and which needs to be verified, by "investigation".

A return. It's a return to the region. Since the ships of the Dutch navy had ensured the protection of the PAM boats, from March to June 2008 (with the frigate Hr.Ms. Evertsen).

A means of legal action. It should be noted that the Netherlands (along with Sweden) is one of the only European states to have legislation allowing pirates to be brought before their national courts.

(NGV)

(1) Read: P.Goossens (PAM): we still don't have an escort for our boats