The international community has pledged to support security operations in Somalia following alarming piracy reports that endangers the lives of seafarers, including Filipinos, on board hijacked vessels.

John Clancy, European Commission’s spokesman for Humanitarian Aid, Development and Relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific States was announced that the International Donors Conference on Security in Somalia held in Brussels was definitely a huge success.

“They gathered together to examine situation for Somalia for the moment and expect, trying to offer international pledging to the security operations for Somalia so that we can look at the longer term development of the country and that would have an impact towards on the piracy issue that we’ve seen on the news headline,” Clancy said.

Although the United Nations and the European Commission did not divulge their “counter-offensive” attack on pirates, they made it clear that they will support Somalia’s present government which they considered as the “most credible one” in the last 17 years.

“Clearly, there will not be a solution at sea in respect to the piracy without finding a solution on land and that means we must support the common government which is the most credible in the last 17 years. That’s been essentially 17 years of chaos in Somalia. This is potentially a turning point for the country,” Clancy stated.

Clancy added that of the €72 million financial aid from the European Commission, €12 million shall go to the assistance to the police force in Somalia.

“This money is mainly aimed at providing support to AMISOM: that is African Mission in Somalia,” he said.

According to International Maritime Bureau, 130 merchant ships were attacked by pirates in 2008. Nine more ships were added to the list in 2009.

Currently, 16 ships reportedly with 250 seafarers on board are still in the hands of the pirates. Of the number, 120 of the crew are reportedly Filipino seafarers.

Last December, A European Naval mission started patrolling Somali sea which is considered by many as one of “the world’s busiest trade routes.