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

I, too, welcome Dr. McMaster and Ms McKenna. We can read reports and briefing documents, but their vivid recollections of the awful challenges and difficulties facing courageous people such as they and their colleagues in delivering a service in difficult circumstances give us a picture of the awful problems facing so many in Syria. It appears that there has been a further escalation of the conflict rather than an easing of the problems faced.

Ms McKenna has mentioned the hundreds of thousands being displaced. I saw a figure that 2 million people had been displaced. I should know the answer, but I do not know what is the population of Syria and the percentage 2 million people represent. Dr. McMaster recounted the effects of having no electricity for eight or nine months. Here, if some people are without an essential utility for an hour or more, they seem lost. It was an understatement to say it was challenging to have to try to deliver a medical service in very trying circumstances. It is an really picture.

My understanding is the United Nations evacuated non-essential staff and that the European Union closed its delegation offices in Damascus. That gives a picture of the difficulties facing organisations and agencies in trying to deliver a service to those who need assistance.

The OSCE plenary session was held in Dublin last week. The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, met some key players. The Syrian situation is terrible and very worrying. More than 2 million people are displaced. There is an ongoing displacement of hundreds of thousands of people within the country. I extend to the organisation my sincere appreciation for the work done by the delegates and all their colleagues and also the work of sister organisations, in such trying circumstances.