Foreign Affairs committee  We're not working specifically on the food security. We're working on the health issues and the....

Foreign Affairs committee  Right. Our work is on the emergency relief side, the recovery side, and we're putting a lot of emphasis on the health side.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, absolutely, but we're one of the partners. We're not taking care of all aspects.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'm sorry?

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to all of the committee members for inviting me here today. As you have introduced my colleagues, I will go straight to my presentation. I think it is quite timely that this committee is meeting to talk about Syria today given that, as you know, over the weekend the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2139 calling for additional access for humanitarian workers in Syria.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. You are correct in saying that this situation is extremely difficult. As I said in my presentation, the needs are great and there are additional ones. Concretely, the Syrian Red Crescent has asked us for $23 million to feed some 50,000 families. That is an additional request.

Foreign Affairs committee  With your permission, I am going to ask my colleague Hossam Elsharkawi to reply to your question. Hossam worked for a long time in the Middle East during several conflicts.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think that for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement it's the same point I made a little earlier. We're relying on strong institutions. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, notwithstanding the fact that 34 of its members were killed, is recruiting hundreds of volunteers every day, and so is the Lebanese Red Cross, which is very active, and the Turkish Red Crescent.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes indeed. Jessie made the same remark. We have to look at long-term planning, and support capacity. The local organizations of the Red Crescent have to meet emergencies, but this emergency situation may last. We have to support them so that they can maintain this sustained effort.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll let Hossam get into the details, but, first of all, they're not two separate organizations. The Red Cross and Red Crescents are all the same organizations that are all part of the federation, they are not separate organizations in that sense. There are 189 national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent that are members of the federation.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am Conrad Sauvé, the CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. I'm going to talk to you today about emergency response in Canada. I will speak in English, but it would be my pleasure to answer your questions in French, as well. As just a reminder, when we talk about context, the Canadian Red Cross was created by an act of Parliament in 1909 as an auxiliary to the government for emergency measures.

Health committee  Good evening, Mr. Chair. Thank you for having me here. My name is Conrad Sauvé. I'm the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Red Cross. I'm honoured to be here today to update you on the important work, as outlined in the documents provided, that the Canadian Red Cross is carrying out across Canada to support individuals and communities and to help the municipal, provincial and federal governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health committee  A large part of the funding announced supports COVID-19 activities that are already in progress, as I said. The Red Cross, together with Health Canada, has significantly increased its support for people in quarantine. These are obviously past operations. There are also the current operations in all airports and the purchase of additional equipment to replenish the mobile equipment deployed, which we'll need for the future.

Health committee  For Montreal in particular, the answer is threefold. First, the main focus is on supporting the integrated university health and social services centre, or CIUSSS, on the West Island of Montreal. There are three areas of action. First, we help them recruit personnel. We know that there's a significant need.

Health committee  We have very close ties with the West Island of Montreal CIUSSS and the Government of Quebec. We're in constant contact. We work all the time, in every province, with provincial and regional authorities. It's an ongoing relationship. The demand has increased in Quebec government facilities.