(Xinhua) -- Three of a fleet of seven NATO ships are on their way to the East African coast to escort World Food Programme (WFP) food shipments to Somalia, NATO's top military command for operations, Allied Command Europe, said Friday. The three ships from Italy, Greece and Britain, belong to a standing maritime force that is tasked with promoting military cooperation with navies of NATO's partner countries. The remaining four ships of the group -- from Germany, Turkey and the United States -- will continue their planned port visits in the Gulf region, said the command.
The three NATO ships may use force pursuant to the authorized rules of engagement and in compliance with relevant international and national law, it said. Upon arrival, the three will begin escort duties and establish a naval presence in the area as a deterrent to piracy, the command added.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said Tuesday that the ships will be in position in a matter of days.
The ships were ordered to redirect toward Africa at short notice after NATO defense ministers agreed two weeks ago to send warships to carry out anti-piracy duties off the coast of Somalia. The decision was in response to a request by the WFP and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"NATO's ability to quickly react to the UN's request for support demonstrates NATO's military flexibility to respond to real security challenges on the seas as well as on the land, and in the air," said General John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Rampant piracy in the waters off Somalia is making food shipments impossible without escorts. The shipments are crucial as over 40 percent of the Somali population depends on WFP food aid.