Pirates hijack tsunami aid ship

[pedro]

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Pirates hijack tsunami aid ship


A ship carrying United Nations' food aid to Somali victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami has been hijacked.

The freighter, the MV Semlow, was sailing from the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Bossaso in north-eastern Somalia when it was attacked by armed pirates.

Waters off the Somali coast are among the most dangerous in the world, the International Maritime Boards says.

Some 28,000 people who lost their homes and livelihoods when the tsunami struck on 26 December are being fed by the UN.

Somalia is awash with some 60,000 militia men and has been without a functioning national government since 1991, which hampered relief efforts to tsunami victims.

Attempts to relocate a new tranisitional administration - set up in neighbouring Kenya last year - back home have so far failed.

Ransom

The 10-member crew onboard when the MV Semlow was captured by gunmen on Monday morning between Haradhere and Hobyo, some 300km (190 miles) northeast of capital Mogadishu, are reported to be safe.


We're urging local leaders and elders to allow the boat to go on with its journey
WFP's Rene McGuffin

In pictures: Somali tsunami
At-a-glance: Countries hit

"The hijackers are asking for $500,000 but we've told them we're just a small boat with relief cargo to feed your Somali people," Inayet Kudrati, director of the Kenya-based Mokatu Shipping Agency which leased the ship to the UN, told Reuters news agency.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for the immediate release of the vessel carrying food aid donated by Japan and Germany.

"We're urging local leaders and elders to allow the boat to go on with its journey," WFP spokeswoman Rene McGuffin said.

Earlier this month, the International Maritime Board warned of a surge in piracy in the region and advised vessels to stay at least 85km away from the lawless coast if possible.

Damage from the tsunami was concentrated on the north-eastern coast of Somali, killing up to 200 people, smashing 2,400 fishing boats and displacing as many as 30,000.

[savafan]

These guys?

[Chip R]

Maybe it was the Dread Pirate Roberts.

[pedro]

I doubt the celebrate "talk like a pirate day" (september 19)

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

[macro]

[KronoRed]

These guys?

Cool pirates here.

Guys who took a ship full of food for people in need..not cool pirates.

[Jaycint]

Man Somalia ranks right up there for places in the world I wouldn't wanna be suddenly dropped into. Right behind Chechnya in the Jaycint Dangerous Places list.

[LincolnparkRed]

I find it oddly humorous that there are still pirates in the 21st century. I hear that term and think of wooden ships and eye-patches.

[Rojo]

I thought they only hit ships carrying DVDs.

[pedro]

It must be pretty frightening to get highjacked at sea.

[RedFanAlways1966]

It must be pretty frightening to get highjacked at sea.

Most of the time modern pirates kill the entire crew! There was an article on this matter a few months back in Reader's Digest. They take the goods, kill the crew and leave the ship adrift. Scary for sure.

[Redsland]

I find it oddly humorous that there are still pirates in the 21st century. I hear that term and think of wooden ships and eye-patches.

Think "lawlessness and murder on the high seas" from the Horn of Africa to the Strait of Malacca, and it becomes less humorous.

[pedro]

Most of the time modern pirates kill the entire crew! There was an article on this matter a few months back in Reader's Digest. They take the goods, kill the crew and leave the ship adrift. Scary for sure.

I hope that doesn't happen.

[westofyou]

It must be pretty frightening to get highjacked at sea.

Bill Murray handled it well in The Life Aquatic.

[pedro]

Bill Murray handled it well in The Life Aquatic.

He had Iggy and the Stooges to get him going.

and it was the only thing he did handle well.

except maybe rescuing Bud Cort.