Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Initially, I compliment the Chairman on raising this matter with Commissioner Ashton at the last meeting of the chairpersons of the foreign affairs committees of the member states of the European Union. It was important that he took that opportunity to raise it at that level.

I join the Chairman in welcoming the representatives of MSF and Trócaire. I compliment them on the briefing papers they provided and on the content of their presentations. Both the Chairman and the two witnesses used the word "gravity" on a number of occasions. The presentations are very graphic regarding the serious situation in that region which is, unfortunately, deteriorating since July 2011. The problems of access, displaced persons, unaccounted- for persons and the food insecurity facing so many hundreds of thousands of people are grave issues and they must be amplified in every forum, be it through parliaments or by Ministers in the different forums in which they have an opportunity to participate.

The requests made by Trócaire and MSF are very reasonable. They ask us to ensure - this will be no problem with the Tánaiste - that this issue is kept on the agenda for the latter half of this year at the foreign affairs Council and in Ireland's forthcoming EU Presidency.

When Ireland has the chair of the OSCE, there is an opportunity to use that forum. Every opportunity must be used. The witnesses point out that all Oireachtas Members have colleagues who are Members of the European Parliament and members of groups within it. It is easy for all of us to make contact with our fellow party members to ensure they raise the issue within particular forums such as the European Parliament and its committee meetings.

I compliment the witnesses and particularly their colleagues working in dangerous situations. The description of their situation makes clear the challenges, tasks and difficulties facing people in the field. They are doing excellent work in challenging circumstances.

Mr. McQuillan mentioned the 500,000 people directly affected and that 200,000 people are unaccounted for. Can we have a breakdown of how the 500,000 people are affected in different ways?