John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Before I go to the first contributor, we thank Mr. Whyte on behalf of the committee for the work he has done. I will keep it as simple as that. There is no point going into profundities, but I do not think we have any conception of what UNRWA is up against. We hope to get a glimpse into what they are doing. I will ask a preliminary question. What kind of physical shape are UNRWA personnel in? Perhaps Mr. Whyte could speak to that.

Imagine an area the size of Louth that had about 2.3 million people in it two years ago. Now, accounting for the people who have been killed and those who have managed to leave, the number is down to around 2.1 million, and these are squeezed into an area 18% of the original size. They have endured two years of almost constant bombardment and now a blockade. It is not a new blockade but one that has been ongoing since 2005 or 2007. This war has been unmitigating in its ferocity, intensity and barbarity, and throughout all of this our staff have continued to deliver their services, reporting to work each day and doing what they can with what they have.

You can only imagine the exhaustion, fatigue, hopelessness, despair and sense of having been abandoned by the world at large, which has watched what has happened there unfold in real time on social media. It is very hard to encapsulate exactly how staff must feel. They are just beyond exhausted and have been displaced, many 15 to 20 times. This latest displacement from Gaza is just one of many they have had to endure. Each time, it gets worse because now there are now fewer resources and conditions of famine, and people are leaving Gaza city literally with whatever they can carry, making their way down Al-Rashid Road, which members may have seen on social media or television. They do not know where they are going and they have nothing with them, and because of the lack of supplies in Gaza, they have nothing to shelter in. Therefore, many are sleeping in the open air. Winter will be coming in and the conditions will deteriorate. Many of our staff have decided to stay where they are in Gaza city, even though the tanks are closing in. Robot tanks are coming in and demolishing buildings in their path. Many of the staff have decided they will just stay where they are. They know their neighbours and they will die with their family where they are, because nowhere is safe. There is no guarantee of safety if they move to the south. It is a situation beyond words, beyond comprehension. I was there until March. The situation has got much worse since I was there and the future is looking very uncertain because, as I believe everyone is aware, parties to the conflict are, it seems, continuing with impunity and determination.