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Worldwide - Piracy is becoming a bigger and bigger issue. The fact that the international community has neglected the pirate issue for so long, has resulted in simple robbers and thieves stealing paint and ropes, evolving into multi-billion organizations taking hostages, whome the torture or kill in an effort to increase the ransome.
Something MUST be done to stop this - And free our colleagues!!
We will not sit by silently and let our friends and colleagues be forgotten in a dusty place of Somalia! We want them free, and we want it now!
The following are the facts:
• 3,863 seafarers were assaulted by pirates during the initial stages of an attack by firing
weapons including assault rifles & rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
• 968 seafarers came in close contact with armed pirates aboard their vessels. 413 (44%) of
those who came in close contact with pirates were rescued from citadels by naval forces
after waiting for hours (and in some cases days) often as pirates fought to breach the safe
room.
• 1,206 individuals were held captive in 2011 by pirate gangs. These included:
• 555 seafarers who were attacked and taken hostage in 2011
• 645 hostages captured in 2010 that remained in pirate hands in 2011 including
• 26 hostages have been held for over 2 years
• 123 hostages have been held for over 1 year
• 6 tourists and aid workers
• 35 hostages died in 2011:
• 8 were killed by pirates during the attack or after being taken captive
• 8 died from disease or malnutrition caused by lack of access to adequate food, water, and
medical aid
• 19 died during rescue efforts by naval vessels or attempting to escape, the majority of
which were being used as human shields by the pirates
• The hostages held in 2011 predominately came from non-OECD countries, especially from
the Philippines (17%), China (9%), and India (8%). Only 7% came from OECD countries.
• It is estimated that 111 pirates were killed in 2011 based on data from open media sources:
• 78 died in direct encounters with naval forces
• 3 died in clashes with Puntland security forces
• 30 died in fights with other pirates over ransoms and hostages
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