In spite of the presence of warships from some, piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden still accounts for 60 per cent of the global total in 2009. Analysis of IMB data shows the international presence may in fact be pushing attacks further offshore into the Indian Ocean.

However, since the end of the monsoon season at the start of September, the international maritime presence has confounded the expectations of most analysts and only one hijacking has been successful, a Spanish fishing vessel off Somalia's east coast on 2 October. IMB reports on individual incidents attribute the failures almost exclusively to the arrival of coalition warships or helicopters on the scene.

Somalia's humanitarian situation is one of the most acute on earth and getting worse. FSNAU - Somalia believe the crisis is at its worse since 1991 and being made worse by the heavy fighting between the Government and Insurgents, particularly since al-Shabaab launched their latest offensive in May. The deteriorating security situation has severely hindered aid delivery and forced aid organisations such as the World Food Programme to pull out of some of the worst areas altogether.

The media situation in Somalia is critical. Though around a dozen radio stations, and numerous low-budget newspapers still operate in the country, many serve as public information outlets for the numerous competing factions, including the government. With six journalists killed so far in 2009, Somalia is one of the most deadly countries on earth for journalists to operate in. Virtually no international media presence exists, at least not in the south and central regions where fighting is heaviest and local journalists face continuous death threats.

The Somali authorities are no proponents of press freedom. They have passed restrictive legislation and shut down a number of media outlets accused of subversive reporting in the past. In the semi-autonomous Puntland region, where security is better than in the south, journalists enjoy greater freedom. However, a local journalist was recently beaten in a Puntland courtroom, and one of the main media outlets, Garowe, is owned by the son of Puntland's president. In the quasi-independent Somaliland region, the press also enjoy greater freedom than in the south. However, independent radio stations are banned, for fear of subversive broadcasting.

Already operating in one of the world's most hostile environments, aid workers in Somalia have suffered still further in recent months, being directly targeted by Islamist insurgent groups such as al-Shabaab. Since the onset of May's offensive, aid compounds belonging to the UN, the World Food Programme (WFP) and others have been deliberately targeted. The deteriorating security situation has not only forced some agencies to pull out of areas where they are vitally needed, but in areas where they are still operational, supplies simply cannot get through on account of the violence.

An additional factor hindering the aid effort in Somalia is the perpetual lack of funds, which prevents even the most basic supplies and medication being provided to those most in need. For instance in September the WFP announced it was closing 12 feeding centres for mothers and children because it had simply run out of money.

In spite of this, large numbers of aid workers from numerous agencies continue to risk their lives on a daily basis to provide support to the almost four million Somalis dependant upon them for their survival.