THE INCREASE in piracy off the coast of Somalia is a symptom of deeper problems within the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation, Concern’s overseas director has said following a visit to the country.
The latest in a series of attacks involved pirates firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at an American cargo ship carrying food aid for the United Nations World Food Programme. Some of the food supplies were destined for Somalia.
Paul O’Brien spent a number of days in Somalia, during which he travelled to Merka, a coastal town south of the capital Mogadishu, to observe Concern projects in the area.
“The piracy problem has put Somalia back on the map but it has to be understood in terms of the desperation felt in the country.”
Mr O’Brien said that while Somalia had witnessed “seeds of improvement” following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops earlier this year, prospects remained bleak.
“The security situation has improved somewhat and Mogadishu is a lot quieter than it was . . . there has been some improvement at political level since the Ethiopians left,” he said. “There are glimmers of hope, but there is still a long way to go yet.”
Some Somalis complain of foreign trawlers fishing in local waters, putting livelihoods in coastal towns at risk, Mr O’Brien continued. Others claim dangerous waste has been dumped off the Somali coast.
The Horn of Africa nation remains an extremely dangerous country for aid agencies to operate in. As lawlessness spread over the last two years, aid workers became a common target. More than 19 were killed in Somalia last year and many others abducted – 14 remain in captivity.
As a result, aid agencies were forced to scale down operations, despite the chronic humanitarian situation. Millions of Somalis risk hunger as a result of severe food shortages. Prolonged drought and the general insecurity have contributed to the problem.
“It’s still very difficult to get access to the people who are most severely affected,” Mr O’Brien said. “With ongoing issues to do with drought and food security, our prognosis is not that good for the future.”
Concern is one of the few humanitarian agencies still operating in Somalia. Its team, which consists of 80 local staff, works on irrigation projects and education programmes in 21 schools throughout the country.
Reuters adds: The French navy detained 11 Somali pirates yesterday who had tried to seize a Liberian- flagged merchant ship, while other pirates released a Greek-owned vessel captured in March, officials said.
Meanwhile US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the United States would send an envoy to a Somali donors conference this week and seek a broader international effort to fight piracy off the Horn of Africa.
“We may be dealing with a 17th-century crime, but we need to bring 21st century assets to bear,” Mrs Clinton told reporters.
“Our envoy will work with other partners to help the Somalis assist us in cracking down on pirate bases and in decreasing incentives for young Somali men to engage in piracy,” she said.