Mr. Ros O'Sullivan:

Frankly, we just do not know what may be happening in east Ukraine and in the context of Russia. To the best of my understanding, there is little or no appetite or tolerance for international humanitarian organisations there. We have probably a far greater opportunity to getting information through diplomatic or United Nations channels than through civil society, which is very heavily controlled in that part of the world, to the best of my understanding. We have little or no visibility. We have been hearing the same things as the Chairman. We are largely relying on the media for that information. Mr. Morris may have greater visibility on that from an ICRC perspective, as well as understanding and knowledge of what is going on there. From the perspective of international humanitarian organisations, we know little about what is going from the eastern side of the country or further east. It is not on our radar.

I will say a little about humanitarian corridors. I am referring specifically to what I consider to be informal or non-formalised humanitarian corridors. A couple of weeks ago, we spent several days in border areas of Romania and Moldova. It is really about cross-border relationships. To give it an Irish perspective, it is a bit like folk living in Border counties here crossing over to work in Fermanagh, Antrim or Derry and then going home again in the evening. That was going on pre conflict. For example, the large city of Chernivsti, with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, is about 40 km north of Romania. Before the Second World War, it was part of Romania. People there speak as much Romanian as they do Ukrainian. The officials and authorities in Chernivsti and on the Romanian side are in touch with each other every day. We met the authorities in Sighetu and Siret, two of the big border towns in Romania. They told us they get phone calls every day from the people in Chernivsti who tell them what they need. The Romanian authorities then mobilise it and send it in as best they can and support them in that way. These humanitarian corridors do exist and that is because the conflict has not travelled that far west. Long may that continue.

From the perspective of international humanitarian organisations working in Ukraine and accessing Ukraine, there is regular and relatively easy access in from Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and several areas of Poland. I travelled from Poland into the western part of Ukraine last week. I will travel back there later this week. We have seen no issues or problems in terms of getting back and forth across the border. There are constantly trucks carrying goods crossing the border from Romania into Ukraine and back again. It is the same in Poland. The borders are relatively open in the areas that are accessible but it must be said that there is so much uncertainty regarding what will happen next that it affects the flow of aid and the flow into the friendly neighbouring countries. We just do not know what will happen next.

If I understood the Chairman correctly, he asked whether there were enough humanitarian workers in Ukraine supporting the large flows of people. At this moment, there are plenty of humanitarian agencies accessing western and central Ukraine. The programmes of assistance and support, which have largely been done to date with volunteer and local self-help groups, are starting to get significant support from international humanitarian organisations. The Government of Ukraine has made it very clear that it welcomes people who are coming to help Ukraine. It has waived all registration and other requirements, at least for now. We are working in and accessing Ukraine in a way that is relatively free. That said, what will happen next week or next month is uncertain.

I referred to collection centres, where people travelling from east to west had been taking respite for some days until recently but are now doing so more permanently. The centres are starting to get a great deal of attention from international organisations, which are supporting local authorities and local self-help groups in ensuring that local first responders are able to do their work in a more responsible way. There are volunteers doing their best with very little. We need a little organisation, co-ordination and structure to this. We also need sensitisation and awareness around humanitarian principles and the protection of children and women in particular so that we can ensure that the dignity these people are being afforded outside Ukraine in countries like Ireland are also afforded to them inside Ukraine while they are on the move, at their most traumatised and fearful about where they have come from and where they are going next.

I apologise if I have missed a question or two. Mr. Morris might wish to add something.