Good afternoon, everyone.
Today we're holding an emergency session on the ongoing and escalating humanitarian crisis in Aleppo. The flagrant human rights violations we're seeing from all sides are cause for grave concern. The civilians caught in the middle of this battle have no escape and are facing a calamitous reality as Aleppo is being reduced to rubble.
There is no doubt that civilians are being targeted and killed by indiscriminate shelling, the use of barrel and cluster bombs, and as we've heard over the weekend, the alleged use of chemical weapons.
In this context I'd like to welcome our witnesses here today. By teleconference from Istanbul is Raed Al Saleh, head of Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, and from Global Affairs Canada, Sébastien Beaulieu, executive director of Middle East relations; and Heather Jeffrey, director general of international humanitarian assistance.
Thank you very much to everybody for offering your testimony here today. We'll begin with opening statements and then move directly to questioning.
Mr. Al Saleh, if you're ready, you may begin with your opening remarks, please.