Mr. Jim Clarken:

It is our job on this side of the house not to despair. We have been in more difficult places and have seen greater challenges surmounted. We must be optimistic while also being realistic. What we have at this time is a window of opportunity to achieve an agreement. We are continuing to work to raise international awareness of the crisis and ensure it is a priority. There is an opening in the coming months to do something before the situation becomes catastrophic in the immediate sense. We must continue to work on nation building and ensuring sustained international support and interest in a country that has amazing potential and amazing people. A report we distributed to members called Above and Beyond explains how different ethnicities are supporting each other. That grassroots, community-level support is and has been there. We need to ensure the leaders are held to account by their own people and the wider community.

We are very grateful to the committee for having us here today. This crisis is happening in the midst of a humanitarian system that is strained by what is going on in Syria and other places in the world. At the same, we can do a huge amount to prevent it from turning from crisis into catastrophe. It is important that we do everything we can, and we are asking the committee to raise its voice and use its influence in whatever way it can. We very much appreciate the support of the Chairman and members.