United Nations: With the increasing threat of pirates along Somalia's coastal waters hindering food supply to the 3 million people of the country, the UN has asked member nations operating off the Somali coast to join hands to use "the necessary means" against the acts of piracy.

"We need to set to work on a plan for deploying a viable multinational force to help secure a peace, or at the very least sustain its people," UN Security General Ban Ki-moon said. At present, the Dutch, French, Danish and Canadian navies escort UN World Food Programme (WFP) ships safely into the Somalian ports, but Canada's duty ends on October 23.

"As yet, no nation has volunteered to take Canada's place. Without escorts, those ships will not arrive. Without that aid, more people will die," the Security General said.

Nearly 90 per cent of the food that feeds 3 million people in Somalia arrives from the sea aboard WFP ships. In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council called on States with naval vessels and military aircraft operating off the Somali coast to use "the necessary means" against the acts of piracy. In its resolution, the Council, citing reports that as many as 3.5 million Somalis will depend on food aid by the end of the year, said, WFP's maritime contractors will not be able to deliver the aid without naval warship escorts.

The 15-member body called on states to actively take part in the fight against piracy, "in particular by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft," to protect the vital WFP lifeline for the affected populations.

Source : PTI