HMCS Ville de Quebec Completes Mission: WFP Humanitarian Operation Successfully Supported

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Oct 23 (MARKET WIRE) --
HMCS Ville de Quebec has completed its task of escorting ships carrying
World Food Programme (WFP) food assistance in the coastal region of
Somalia in response to a global request from the WFP and the
International Maritime Organization, both United Nations organizations.

Beginning in August 2008, HMCS Ville de Quebec provided a naval escort to
10 ships under contract to the WFP to protect them from piracy and armed
robbery. Around 36,200 tonnes of food - enough to feed about 400, 000
people for six months - were successfully delivered to Somalia by ships
escorted by HMCS Ville de Quebec.

More than 3.2 million Somalis need food assistance, of which 90 percent
arrives by sea. Although pirates have launched more than 70 attacks on
vessels in Somali waters so far this year, no ship carrying WFP food
assistance has been attacked while under Canadian escort. Over the past
10 months, naval escorts have also been provided by France, Denmark and
the Netherlands.

"The Government of Canada was proud to respond to the request from the
United Nations to provide security, while ensuring the safe arrival of
critical food supplies at designated ports," said the Honourable Peter
Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency. "By escorting World Food Programme supplies
the brave men and women of our Canadian Forces continue to contribute to
humanitarian efforts and international peace and stability."

"For the 253 Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen on board, our efforts
in support of the World Food Programme have been an eye-opening
experience," said Commander Chris Dickinson, commanding officer of Ville
de Quebec. "Our success is attributable to my crew, who I believe have
made a difference in this area of the world through their efforts, while
being themselves changed for the better by their experiences here."

HMCS Ville de Quebec will return to her initial mission, Operation
SEXTANT, Canada's participation in the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1
(SNMG1) fleet in support of the NATO Response Force (NRF). She is
scheduled to return to Canada in December.

Notes for news and assignment editors:

For still imagery of HMCS Ville de Quebec escorting WFP ships, visit
Canadian Forces Combat Camera at http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/.

For information about the World Food Programme, visit www.wfp.org.

Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
After hours: 613-792-2973
www.forces.gc.ca

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