Pirate146;s prey

Time is running out for Somalia. As many as 3 million people 8212; one-third of the country 8211; live under threat of starvation. Their lifeline is the sea, from which food, medical supplies, and other aid arrives. And there lies the problem. Heavily armed bands of modern-day pirates in speedboats are terrorizing ships in Somalia8217;s coastal waters. So far this year they have raided more than 50 vessels, stealing cargos and hijacking ships, from private yachts to oil tankers, and extorting some 100 million a year in ransom8230; Keeping Somalia8217;s sea-borne supply line open is imperative. It carries 90 percent of the humanitarian assistance delivered by the WFP, which in turn supplies nearly 90 percent of the aid that feeds so many Somalis.

Since November 2007, following a series of pirate raids, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark and France deployed naval frigates to escort WFP aid ships safely into harbor. Under their protection, not a single ship has come under attack, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of assistance. Yet despite that clear success, the future is uncertain. The Canadian naval mission ends in late October, and no country has stepped forward to replace it. Without naval escorts, food aid will not get to Somalia. 8230;I am optimistic that some nation will come to the rescue 8211; but we must not risk this happening too late, or not at all. Beyond that, we need a long-term plan8230;There is a clear way to begin. The first step is for some country or countries to volunteer the naval force needed to preserve Somalia8217;s humanitarian lifeline. The next is to develop a comprehensive strategy, with the UN Security Council, to eliminate piracy in Somali waters.

From a comment by Josette Sheeran in the Beirut 8216;Daily Star8217;