Foreign Affairs committee  There have been some signs of improvement of late. Visas are being issued at a greater rate and more rapidly. Of late, we have been told that three or four shipments were actually permitted to enter the country. There's speculation as to why the Assad regime is more cooperative of late.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and honourable members. My focus today will be on the political and security aspects of the situation in Syria. Detail on the humanitarian situation will be given by my colleague Stephen Salewicz. My other colleague, Sabine Nolke, will update you on the international community's response to Assad's use of chemical weapons in Syria.