Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 17th, 2022

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I understand.

Can you tell me how this conflict is impacting neighbouring countries such as Somalia and Sudan. Is it increasing regional conflicts? What is going on? Are they picking sides? I just need to know what's happening in that region.

Thank you.

[Tarik Khan]

This was obviously one of our major concerns and one in which we're like-minded, to the extent to which this conflict could spread to the broader Horn of Africa.

There are two factors that I would say are regional in nature and of significant concern to us. First, as you mentioned, the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia is a destabilizing factor. It is an international issue that we should all be concerned about.

Second is the outflow of Ethiopian refugees to Sudan, and their ability to accommodate and receive those refugees. We understand that there are about 60,000 of them now in Sudan, so I would say that's the other regional or neighbouring-country dimension that is of concern to us.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

What about Somalia?

[Tarik Khan]

For Somalia it is less so. Somalia is of course dealing with its own internal conflict and destabilization by groups such as Al-Shabab, but we do not see a direct link between what's going on in Tigray, for example, and Somalia.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Apart from the African Union interventions and looking for solutions, do you see these other countries working individually to try to find a peaceful resolution and to get a negotiated settlement because of the impact it could have on them? Do you know of such movements going on?

[Tarik Khan]

Do you mean of countries such as Somalia and neighbouring countries?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Yes, Somalia, Sudan, etc. You've talked about other countries' senior officials getting involved in those countries, but what's going on in that immediate region? I'd like a quick answer. I only have 30 seconds left.

[Tarik Khan]

We do not see signs that those neighbouring countries are seeking to play a significant role in resolving the conflict. We have not seen that.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thanks very much, Dr. Fry. You are slightly under. Sticking to the time frame is much appreciated.

I'll now give the floor to Mr. Bergeron for two and a half minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to address the issue of the financial assistance provided specifically to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid in Tigray. As Ms. McPherson said, I understand that we want to keep our overall envelope flexible to meet the many needs throughout Ethiopia. However, the fact remains that, according to the World Food Programme, 40% of Tigrayans are suffering from an extreme lack of food after 15 months of conflict. In three conflict‑affected areas in the north, over nine million people need food aid. This is the highest number to date.

This brings me back to my question. What mechanism have we implemented to ensure that this $7 million can actually be used to get a portion of the $43 million to the people of Tigray, as well as to the Afar and Amhara areas.

If I'm told that this aid is being provided in other parts of Ethiopia, that's fine. No one can argue with a good thing. However, the real issue is whether the $7 million has actually helped to deliver aid to the people of Tigray, in particular.

[Tarik Khan]

Thank you for your question.

I'll briefly respond to the last question.

I would add that Kenya is also a neighbouring country that has many interests in the Horn of Africa.

I'll now ask my colleague, Mr. Salewicz, to answer your other question regarding humanitarian aid.

[Stephen Salewicz]

Indeed, the situation in Tigray and northern Ethiopia is severe, from a humanitarian context. I agree with the premise that aid needs to get in, and I can assure you that we do this through our partners. The WFP, for instance, is providing food assistance and we fund WFP. UNICEF is providing water and sanitation assistance and we're funding UNICEF as well. We fund a variety of organizations that are responding to sexual and gender-based violence and providing psychosocial assistance and protection for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. These are all projects that are ongoing.

My point is to emphasize that it's a multi-dimensional crisis. I can assure you that the funding we provide flows through our partners and into Tigray, facing many of the obstacles we've already identified.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Salewicz.

Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.

Ms. McPherson, go ahead, for two and a half minutes.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

This is such an interesting conversation and I have so many questions to ask. Unfortunately, two and a half minutes is not very long.

Genocide expert Dr. Mukesh Kapila has described what's happening in Tigray as a genocide. I know that our experts today have said that others have not declared that to be the case, but is the Canadian government undertaking a law and fact-based review regarding the events that are unfolding in Tigray to determine if the atrocities, the systematic gender-based violence, the humanitarian blockade and the arbitrary arrest of Tigrayans constitute genocide or acts of genocide?

[Tarik Khan]

I'm pleased to return to that question of genocide.

There is broad consensus among the international community that serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are taking place in Tigray and other conflict-affected areas. But, as I said, there is not a confirmation of genocide.

We continue to rely on the findings of the OHCHR and the EHRC. We understand that the OHCHR will be undertaking more work and, of course, they will be looking for any risk or sign of genocide, as well as incidents of SGBV, in their analysis.

This is the primary body that we have confidence in and who we turn to for the investigative work.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We will be depending on them for that investigative work. There will not be any investigations or any facts-based review by our own the Canadian government.

[Tarik Khan]

Our ambassador and diplomatic staff on the ground in Addis Ababa are very active. They travel and meet regularly with regional governments, the Government of Ethiopia, as well as civil society and of course with local NGOs. This gives them a chance to listen and to hear if there are signs of those kinds of human rights violations. Of course, they hear plenty about SGBV.

I would say that, in terms of an independent, impartial investigation, the organization best placed to get the access and to actually conduct the assessment is the OHCHR.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I believe that is my time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

You still have 30 seconds if you want to get in a very quick question and answer.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you. I would like just a little bit of information.

I have heard reports that journalists have been attacked. There have been arrests of journalists and media. I'd love some information or any clarity you could provide on that, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Please just give a quick answer and we can follow up, potentially, in a subsequent round.

[Tarik Khan]

Thank you.

I'll turn to my colleague, Mrs. Hilary Childs-Adams, to respond on the detention of journalists.

[Hilary Childs-Adams]

Thank you.

We continue to follow very closely any reports of journalists being arrested. The government controls the news coming out of Ethiopia on the conflict very tightly. Their messaging is what we hear. However, that's what an embassy on the ground is for. They continue to monitor the situation closely.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms. McPherson.

The floor now goes to Mr. Aboultaif for five minutes, please.