Piracy off the Somali coast has become a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil war in the early 21st century.Since 2005, many international organizations including the International Maritime Organisation and the World Food Programme has expressed concern over the increase in piracy. Piracy has contributed to an increase in freight costs and hindered the delivery of food shipments. Ninety percent of the World Food Programmes shipments arriving by sea and ships in this area now requires a military escort.
