由於最近在海盜橫行的索馬利亞海岸所發生的印度船戰事件，荷蘭與北約組織（NATO）派遣船艦護衛聯合國世界糧食計畫署（WFP）助其運送糧食至索馬利亞救濟超過200萬的饑民。
近幾天來索馬利亞海域上還發生了數起海盜劫持泰國、伊朗與香港商船事件，其中香港船隻也乘載了運至伊朗的3萬多噸大麥。
至少有美國等九個國家派出戰艦在印度洋和葉門灣支援，然而至今仍對遏止猖獗的海盜挾擊沒有太大的幫助。
近幾天來遭劫的最大目標是近39萬噸、330公尺長的超級油輪「天狼星號」，它從沙烏地阿拉伯運送總價超過1億美金的200萬桶石油至美國。
國際海事局（International Maritime Bureau，IMB）執行長Pottengal Mukundan表示：「此次攻擊指明了兩點：第一，這是有史以來最大的船艦挾持案件，第二，遠岸攻擊暗示了具高度組織與戰略的海盜團，他們並不是隨機打劫的。」
2008年是索國外海海盜犯案最嚴重的一年，所幸自2007年11月海軍護衛系統啟動後，至今乘載救濟糧食的WFP船隻仍未受攻擊。
索馬利亞長年飽受爭戰、糧食歉收和糧荒、惡性通貨膨脹，充滿人權危機。自2007年起，WFP在護衛船艦的幫助下，開始供應來自法國、丹麥、荷蘭與加拿大等國共13萬7千噸的糧食援助。WFP索國執行長Peter Goossens表示，沒有這些糧食救濟，索國現在的情況會更糟。
歐盟外交首長們也已決議於近日將派遣5至7艘護航艦與支援飛機至非洲角，負責保護商船與運送食物至索國的WFP船隻。
針對維護國際海域安全的觀點，皇家海軍 （Royal Navy Commodore）隊長暨聯合海事署（Combined Maritime Forces）副長Tim Lowe表示：「索國海域維繫著全球經脈，需要聯盟、北約與其他國際夥伴合作著力解決海盜問題。當軍事力量無法解決時，我們歡迎其他力量的協助，長遠的治本方法需要國際與跨部門的共同迴響。」
Ships from the Netherlands and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, are escorting food aid vessels from the UN's World Food Programme through the pirate-ridden waters off the coast of Somalia, where an Indian Navy warship last night blew up a pirate vessel that opened fire on it.
The attack on the INS Tabar came the same day pirates hijacked a Thai boat and an Iranian bulk cargo carrier. Also on Tuesday, Somali pirates seized a Hong Kong registered merchant vessel with 25 crewmembers on board. The vessel, carrying 35,000 tonnes of wheat, was headed for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas from Hong Kong.
The presence of warships from at least nine countries, including the United States, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has, so far, done little to stop the rising number of pirate attacks.
On Saturday, pirates hijacked their largest target - the 330-metre long super tanker Sirius Star. The ship is loaded with some two million barrels of oil worth at least US$100 million bound from Saudi Arabia for the United States. The 319,430 ton Sirius Star was attacked some 450 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu. Still onboard are the ship's 25 crewmembers.
International Maritime Bureau Director Pottengal Mukundan said from London, "Although this is just the latest of a large spike in attacks off the east coast of Africa, this incident is significant on two counts. Firstly, this is the largest vessel to have been hijacked. Secondly, the distance from the shore would suggest a highly organized operation - this is not mere opportunism."
Since the naval escort system began in November 2007, no pirate attacks have been launched against ships loaded with World Food Programme food despite 2008 being the worst year ever for piracy off Somalia.
Somalia is in the grip of a deepening humanitarian crisis, brought on by conflict, successive failed or poor harvests, and hyperinflation.
Over the past year, the World Food Programme has supplied food aid with the help of escort vessels from several countries, says WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens.
"Since November we've shipped more than 137,000 tons of food into Somalia under escort - food that is saving lives. Without the support of France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada, the situation in Somalia would be even worse right now," said Goossens.
European Union foreign ministers agreed on November 10 to dispatch five to seven frigates and support aircraft to the Horn of Africa in December. The force is charged with protecting merchant ships and World Food Programme vessels bringing food to Somalia.
"The sea is the lifeblood of our global economy and it is appropriate the Coalition, NATO and other international partners work together to address this problem," said Royal Navy Commodore Tim Lowe, deputy commander, Combined Maritime Forces. "While a military force cannot solve the problem, the solution lies ashore, we welcome the assistance of additional forces," said Lowe. "The long-term solution to piracy requires an international and interagency response."
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
