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weapon what characteristics do Somali pirates have ？

nuclear waste illegal fishing poverty Civil war

other European ships have been looting Somalia's seas of their greatest resource: seafood. We have destroyed our own fish-stocks by over-exploitation - and now we have moved on to theirs. More than $300m worth of tuna, shrimp, lobster and other sea-life is being stolen every year by vast trawlers illegally sailing into Somalia's unprotected seas. The local fishermen have suddenly lost their livelihoods, and they are starving. 返回

nuclear waste. As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died. 返回

In 1960, the average income in Somalia is 10% higher than that of South Korea. Yet in the next 40 years, the economy in Somaliabroke down because of civil war. More than 1/3 of its poputation suffered from hunger, and more than 1/4 of its poputation lacked clean drinking water. The death rate of little baby was extremely high, reaching 25%. What’s more, Somalia shouldered debts of 3 billion. 返回

Somalia is a country that has been plagued by decades of civil violence. Central government control of the country effectively ended in 1991, creating a humanitarian crisis. In late 1991, the United States became involved in delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia. By early 1994, after an U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was downed, the U.S troops were withdrawn from Somalia.

The area currently experiencing the most sustained incidences of piratical activity is the Horn of Africa, where piracy originates predominantly from Somalia. Somalia‘s coast extends 2,300 miles in both the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean ， Hijackings off the coast of Somalia accounted for a third of global piracy incidents this year, reports the International Maritime Board.

Somali pirate gangs PuntlandGroup （ “ 邦特兰卫队 ” ) NationalVolunteerCoastGuard （ “ 国家 海岸志愿护卫者 ” ) Merkah （ “ 梅尔卡 ” ) SomaliaMarine （ “ 索马里水兵 ”)

For many Somalis, piracy is the best career option

Why do Somali waters become the hot spot ？ waters off the Somali coast are key sea lanes that connect the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and Europe through the Suez Canal.

The Suez Canal 苏伊士运河 In 1869, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt. The Suez Canal separates Africa from Asia.and with the Red Sea through the Suez Cana With its connection to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, it is one of themost heavily traveled waterways in the world, carrying traffic between Europe and Asia.

Impact caused by piracy off the Horn of Africa Pirates force some large rampant shipping company to give up the Suez Canal, but to turn to walk around the southern Africa, which increase the cost of shipment. The voyage increases from 12 to 15 days Cost: from $30000 to $2 per day Increase of insurance premium

There has been an increase in the total number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2008 compared to the past three years (2005~2007) The most significant change in 2008 is the increasing number of the incidents of the piracy and armed robbery against ships which took place in Gulf of Aden and Somalia water ， it almost nearly reached 111. Piracy incidents in Somalia ： 2003~2008

The Response of China to Piracy and armed robbery against ships Piracy is the enemy of the human race. A total of 1,265 Chinese merchant ships have passed through the Gulf of Aden so far in 2008, with seven being attacked. China has been making increased efforts by tightening up Combating piracy measures, as illustrated in the recent piracy trial cases in China.

In response to U.N.resolutions calling for tougher international action to tackle rampant piracy off the east African coast, Chinese warships set off on a mission to help combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, Two destroyers and a supply vessel left from a port on the southern island Hainan, Chinese fleet heading for Somalia and the Gulf of Aden carries about 800 crews, including about 70 troops from the navy's special forces. It is the first time for the Chinese navy has been deployed outside Asia on a military mission since the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949.U.N.resolutions

171 Haikou, one of the most sophisticated PLA Navy destroyers, has both air and underwater defensive capability with a phased-array radar and a vertically launched long-range air defense missile system. The ship's defense capabilities were designed by Chinese engineers. 169 Wuhan, is the multi-purpose missile destroyer too.

A Chinese sailor waves goodbye as the fourth Chinese navy flotilla depart from the Zhoushan Islands in east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 30, 2009

168 ： The Chinese navy missile destroyer

International Response to Piracy and armed robbery against ships The international community has undertaken several coordinated efforts to combat piracy. Britain, France, Germany and Russia are among countries that have already deployed destroyers and other naval vessels off Somalia to protect shipping.