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Somalia

Flood of Applicants for Naval Somalia Mission

The Finnish Navy has been deluged with applications for Operation Atalanta, the European Union's antipiracy mission off the coast of Somalia. Finland has decided to send the mine vessel Pohjanmaa to escort ships bringing food aid to Somalia in the Gulf of Aden, an area that has been plagued by pirates.

Miinalaiva Pohjanmaa.
Image: Yle

The Navy has received 930 applications: 240 applicants will be tested, and no more than 120 will be chosen for the mission. About 100 of the applicants are Defence Forces personnel, and the rest are reservists.

The tests are to be held in October, and will involve assessments of the applicants’ health, physical condition, and language skills.

In addition to escorting and protecting the aid vessels, the Pohjanmaa is to be involved in surveillance and vessel inspection tasks.

Sources: YLE