- A Canadian navy frigate is to be deployed off Somali coast to protect United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) ships ferrying food aid against pirate attacks.
According to Canada's defence minister, a vessel would be diverted from a NATO mission in Mediterranean, to escort WFP ships traveling into Somali ports.
WFP spokesman in East Africa, Peter Smerdon, told media that Canadian warship is expected in Somalia in the next 10 days.
Mr Smerdon said that plans are now being made to ship grain from South Africa to Somalia.
In June, UN Security Council voted to allow countries to send warships into Somalia's waters to tackle piracy.
WFP warned that month that it might have to cut food aid to Somalia after French, Danish and Dutch frigates finished their escort duties.
MCS Ville de Quebec, at request of UN WFP and UN International Maritime Organisation, has been dispatched "to ensure their safe arrival at designated ports," a statement from Canadian defence ministry said.
"Food supplies are urgently needed in Somalia but deteriorating security has made delivery difficult by land and sea. Canada is stepping up to the plate," the statement noted.
It further said formal authorisation from Somalia's transitional government to enter its territorial waters over "the next few weeks" is still being sought.
Somalia has been beset by instability and insecurity for almost 20 years and is further affected by regional droughts and increasing world food prices.
About 2.5 million Somalis depend on food aid, most of which is transported by sea.
The seas off Somalia have some of highest rates of piracy in the world.
Pirates have attacked at least 26 ships off Somalia so far this year, compared with 31 attacks in the whole of 2007.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español