Ending of escorts threatens Somalis

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 12 (UPI) -- A surge of violence in Somalia's coastal waters is threatening aid and has prompted the United Nations to call for additional maritime security.

The U.N. World Food Program called on the international community Thursday to provide additional escort ships to protect cargo with aid for Somalis in the country's violent coastal waters. A sharp increase in pirate attacks on ships in the region threatens the aid for as many as 2 million Somalis and also poses a threat to the fragile security situation.

Officials say the escort operations have been a successful deterrent to militant rebels in the coastal volatile waters since November 2007 when the program began. But the current operations from the Netherlands are scheduled to finish at the end of June.

"Without escorts, our whole maritime supply route will be threatened," Peter Goossens, WFP Somalia director, said in a statement.

"Shipping companies are reluctant to sail unescorted to Somalia, and we have no offers to take over from the Royal Netherlands Navy."