Pirates, Smugglers Strike of the Coast of Somalia

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden is adding to the misery of the Somali people. According to a press release from the United Nations World Food Program, pirates attacked a Somali contractor 60 miles from Brava, a Somali port south of the Somali capitol of Magaishu.

The continuing pirate attacks endanger ongoing humanitarian aid programs, which feeds more than 1.2 million people. Natural disasters such as floods and drought, and factional fighting have made food scarce. According to the UN, more than two thirds of the assistance provided by the World Food Program is routed through the Gulf of Aden.

The contractor involved in Sunday's attack had just delivered 7000 tons of food and was returning to Kenya. Although the crew of the boat were unharmed, the workers remain frightened. The UN is renewing calls to the international community to help provide security for cargo ships delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia. "It has become extremely difficult for us to feed hundreds of thousands of hungry people in Mogadishu and throughout Somalia. We are operating in an environment which is fraught with insecurity: piracy, banditry and widespread violence. We need the Government to protect humanitarian workers," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

In addition to endangering food supplies, bandits were also been responsible for the deaths of more 60 people in the Gulf when human smugglers forced 66 people bound for better lives in Yemen overboard into the Gulf of Aden. According to a press release from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 244 people were on board two ships that were to take them to Yemen.

According to the UN, the smugglers forced the passengers off the boat before the ships had reached shore, resulting in the drowning deaths. Survivors told authorities that the boats were overcrowded and reported that the smugglers beat many of the passengers. Many of those that survived the journey accused the Yemeni military of robbing passengers.

An estimated 26,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden into Yemen last year, and according to UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond, more than 20,000 people have made the voyage so far this year. Of those 439 have died during the journey.

Sources: UN World Food Program Press Release

UN High Commissioner on Refugees Press Release