Welcome to the seventh meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Pursuant to the motion adopted on January 31, the committee is meeting to discuss the current situation in Ethiopia.
As always, interpretation services are available through the globe icon at the bottom of your screens.
For members participating in person, please keep in mind the Board of Internal Economy's guidelines for mask use and health protocols.
Please note that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name.
When you have the floor, speak slowly and clearly. When you aren't speaking, please mute your microphone.
As a reminder, all comments by members and witnesses should be directed through the chair.
For housekeeping, I will remind members, and inform our panel as well, that I will be using a very analogue reminder to indicate that 30 seconds remain in your speaking or testimony time. When you see the yellow card, please try to wrap up the discussion so we can go to the next member or intervenor.
I would now like to welcome our witnesses.
We have with us this afternoon, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Tarik Khan, the acting assistant deputy minister for the sub-Saharan Africa branch.
We'll also be meeting with Hilary Childs‑Adams, special advisor for Ethiopia, Sub‑Saharan Africa Branch.
We also have Stephen Salewicz, director general, international humanitarian assistance; and Gwyn Kutz, director general of the peace and stabilization operations program.
I've bee advised that Acting ADM Khan will be making the opening remarks of five minutes.
Sir, I will give you the floor, and we will then go to questions by members. Please go ahead.