Twelve soldiers of the Armed Forces of Malta were today awarded commemorative medals for their peace operations as part of the EU's Atalanta anti-piracy operation off Somalia from the Dutch Minister of Defence.

They returned from the region last Saturday.

The AFM soldiers (3 from the Maritime Squadron's Rapid Deployment Team, and the remainder from 1 regiment's 'C' Special Duties company) conducted operations providing protection to World Food Program (WFP) vessels that were delivering essential food aid to the people of Somalia.

The Maltese soldiers served on board the Dutch Navy's vessel HNLMS Zuiderkruis, which is a fast resupply support ship on its last deployment after 36 years of service. 

Major Nicholas Cassar led the Maltese VPD 2011 team, which had also previously  deployed overseas for the first time on a trip to Libya's Tripoli harbour onboard AFM patrol vessel P61, as a force protection element.

The AFM VPD 2011's medals were presented by Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom Also present were the Dutch Ambassador and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said.

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