Foreign Affairs Committee on Sept. 26th, 2024

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you. We next go to MP McPherson.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you for saying those things.

Based on what we have heard from some of the people on the ground with MSF, which is releasing a report on the number of maternal deaths, it's just horrific what's happening on the ground, particularly to women.

I am going to go back to the questions I was asking about the United Arab Emirates' role in arming the RSF. Has Canada addressed the serious issue of the U.A.E. arming and financing the RSF and the most recent allegations that it has shipped arms into Sudan under cover of the symbol of the Red Crescent—it is legally protected—which is actually a violation of international humanitarian law?

[Caroline Delany]

We are aware of the reports. Canada continues to work with its regional and international partners to determine how best to engage with the various actors who may have influence over the warring parties to help encourage a cessation of hostilities and a meaningful commitment to mediation efforts.

On the question of arms exports, we continue to conduct thorough risk assessments of relevant export permits for controlled goods and technologies destined for export with the aim of mitigating the risk of illegal transfer or diversion of Canadian exports to the conflict in Sudan.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We have a role to play in terms of diplomacy on that as well. Of course, over the years, UN experts, as you will know, have several times flagged the use of the Streit Group for manufacturing armoured vehicles in Darfur in contravention of the UN arms embargo. Under the Arms Trade Treaty, which is the law of Canada, Canada is obliged to take action in the case of brokerage.

What action is planned in the case of Canadian-owned Streit?

[Caroline Delany]

We'll have to come back to you on that. We don't have specific information on that company.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

It would be great if you could, mostly because we've been raising this issue for many years. The NDP has seen the issues with this for a very long time. Thank you.

I have one last question for you. When you listed the people who are on the Canada sanctions list, there are six, I understand, from Sudan who are listed. To me, that seems like a very low number, considering what we are seeing happening on the ground in Sudan.

Is there a plan to include more people on that sanctions list and ensure that it is more comprehensive?

[Caroline Delany]

We're always reviewing the options with regard to additional sanctions. These processes have quite rigorous due diligence in considering and evaluating the particular circumstances that might warrant the use of sanctions and, as I mentioned, we'll continue to monitor the situation closely in Sudan.

One of the things that's most useful in the cases of Sudan is coordination with like-mindeds to ensure effectiveness. We also take into consideration strategic considerations and a staggered approach.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

We next go to MP Aboultaif.

You have five minutes, sir.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you for the five minutes, Chair.

I speak to my community members, my constituents from the Sudanese community, and one of the issues is the critical humanitarian access inside the country where there is a large number of displaced people as a result of this ugly war. The negotiation in Switzerland led by the U.S. emphasized this issue.

How successful was that negotiation and did that improve the situation at all?

[Caroline Delany]

Thank you.

The negotiations in Switzerland were successful in that there was a recognition of an agreement to open border access with regard to humanitarian access, but that was largely the only accomplishment. I think we're fairly disappointed in the absence of an actual ceasefire and the continued fighting, of course, by the belligerents.

I might turn it over to the ambassador in case she has anything else to add, because she was there.

[Jacqueline O'Neill]

Thank you.

To add a little specificity to that, they got agreement to open two humanitarian supply routes. One is the Adre Crossing, which is on the border with Darfur, between Chad and Darfur, and the other in the Dabbah Road, which gives access to the north and west from Port Sudan. They got guarantees from both parties to secure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

I think it's fair to say that parties still have a ways to go in delivering on that commitment, and we've seen both parties hinder the development, or the delivery and access of aid.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Are you aware of any incidents where people who are supposed to exit to a safe place, or to a place they can find to flee to, were getting killed, or of other trafficking that took place while this is happening?

[Caroline Delany]

I think I'll maybe refer you to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan. This was started as a result of a resolution by the UN Human Rights Council. Canada was a co-sponsor. It's mandated to monitor and investigate human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law.

They released a report in September. The findings and the evidence is significant with regard to the kinds of actions that you're describing. There have been reports of humanitarian workers being killed.

The report itself found that both SAF and the RSF, and allies, are responsible for large-scale violations, many of which amount to war crimes. This includes things like air strikes, destruction of civilian infrastructure, ethnic-based attacks, rape, SGBV. The list is really quite horrendous in terms of the kinds of violations that they're seeing, including against children in terms of the recruitment of children as child soldiers.

It goes a little bit farther as well with regard to the RSF, and suggests that there are reasonable grounds to suggest that the RSF and its allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you.

I have a question about the Zamzam camp. Have any of you visited the camp, or have any of the Canadian members of the delegation visited the camp?

[Caroline Delany]

I'm going to turn it over to Ms. Desloges on the Zamzam camp. I have not visited myself and I can't comment on past visits by diplomats.

[Julie Desloges]

I have not visited the Zamzam camp either. I do not have the current number—sorry, the current estimate is that 500,000 people are in the Zamzam camp.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Is there any Canadian organization you are aware of that is working, or helping that you know of, and has reported anything from that camp?

[Julie Desloges]

I do not. We can look into that, but not not off the top of our—

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

I'm interested to know what role exactly Canadian organizations have taken in the camp. I visited camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and about 105 different organizations were there, some Canadian, some, of course, from the rest of the world, so I'm interested to know if there's any idea how many Canadian organizations were on the ground or are still on the ground in the camp.

[Julie Desloges]

I can speak to what we are doing to support people in the camp. WFP, the World Food Programme, is our largest humanitarian partner. They are scaling up right now to respond to over 180,000 people who have not been receiving assistance, or very limited assistance, given the very challenging access situation in that camp.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Is it safe to assume that Canada's focus in this specific mission is probably food, as famine is a big issue in the camp?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Answer very briefly, please.

[Julie Desloges]

Yes, food is one of the largest sectors that we support. We also provide support sector activities under water and sanitation, hygiene services, nutrition and shelters. These are all of the largest needs that we are seeing across the country.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you.