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NEWS STREAM

Fleeing From Ramadi; One Year Anniversary of Sewol Ferry Catastrophe; President Putin Discusses Economy in Annual Q&A; The Net Zero House. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired April 16, 2015 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:19] KRISTIE LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

A sad day in South Korea. And some say there is still no closure one year after a ferry disaster killed more than 300 people.

And running from Ramadi: CNN witnesses a stream of humanity fleeing an ISIS advance.

And what is it like to have your face stolen online? One man shares what he learned.

And we begin in South Korea where it is now just past 9:00 p.m. Now many there have spent the day remembering a national tragedy that took place

exactly one year ago today. 304 people, most of them high school students, were killed when the Sewol ferry sank in the Yellow Sea.

Crowds gathered in the capital and across the country today to remember the victims. In the city where the students went to school, angry families

blocked the prime minister from visiting a memorial alter.

Now they are demanding an independent investigation into what went wrong. Now fore more, CNN's Paula Hancocks joins me now from the South Korean

capital. And Paula, as South Korea mourns this tragedy this day, the country's president is making a promise to the victims families. What can

you tell us?

OK, unfortuantely we don't have that connection with Paula Hancocks right now, but earlier today, Paula Hancocks spoke to a mother, one of the

bereaved families, the parents who los their child in this tragedy. It took place one year ago today. Lets bring up that clip and share it with

you now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Amidst the snappyhappy tourists in sprinttime Seoul, Park Un-mi (ph) cuts a lonely figure. She

lost her 16 year old daughter one year ago. Her body has yet to be found.

Daiyun (ph) was one of 304 trapped in the Sewol passenger ferry as it sank beneath the waves. She one of nine victims still in the frigid waters of

the Yellow Sea.

Investigators say a sharp turn may have caused the accident, but overloading in a lack of water and ballast tanks made recovery almost

impossible.

"At the start when the children were being found one by one," Park tells me, "I suddenly thought someone has to be the last to be found, what's if

it's Daiyun (ph)? I'm still living in April 2014."

Most of the victims were high school students on a field trip. Those that perished told by crew to stay where they were. Many of the crew then

escaped.

Images of the captain being rescued as hundreds remained onboard insensed the nation. Prosecutors are currently appealing a court ruling that spared

him of the death penalty.

Some victims' families disagree with the government over how the investigation into the diaster should be handled. A recent attempt to

march on the presidential compound stopped by police.

Some bereaved parents even shaved their heads to show their frustration.

Those who believe their loved ones are still inside the ship say they feel forgotten. They're becoming more desprate in their calls for help.

"When I think of my daughter, my heart breaks," says one mother. "I think about how scared she must have been, and how much she would have cried out

for me."

So, Park Un-mi (ph) continues her protest outside the presidential residence, her husband taking over when she becomes too weak to stand.

She has neurofibroma, tumors in her nervous system. She's refusing treatment until her daughter's body is found.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: A grim and painful anniversary. That was Paula Hancocks reporting.

Now, the Russian President Vladimir Putin is answering questions from the public. It's happening right now in this live televised Q&A session. He's

more than three hours into this, which is an annual event.

Now it draws a huge amount of interest even though the questions are very carefully vetted.

Now our senior international correspondent Matthew Chance has been following this lengthy Q&A session. He joins us now live from Moscow. And

Matthew, this is a highly produced, highly choreographed annual media event. This year, what themes are taking centerstage?

[08:05:16[]MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think there's been a range of themes that have been tackled in the course of the

past, what, three hours and seven minutes since Vladimir Putin took to the podium, or took to that very new television studio near the Kremlin.

For the first hour or so, perhaps longer than that, the emphasis was very much on the Russian economy. (inaudible), the ruble has plunged in value

against the U.S. dollar (inaudible) are down, people's living standards are falling. And so there's been a lot of, you know, very tough questioning,

actually, of Vladimir Putin about that issue. One man, for instance, saying, look, you know prices in the shops are getting higher, but our

salaries are staying the same. When is that going to change?

And it gives us an indication of the fact that this isn't just about people's wallets, although of course for many ordinary Russians that's

precisely waht it's about. You have to remember as well that the reason is being emphasized is that the Kremlin is nervous that one of the big social

contracts, as it's called, the Kremlin had with the Russian people is that, look, we'll raising living standards in the country, and in exchange for

that you can surrender some political freedoms.

Now that deal looks very shaky. And I think that's why there has been so much emphasis on the economy in the first hour or so of this annual Q&A

sessions.

It's by no means, though, the only issue that's been tackled, other issues, too, the Iranian question, the fact that Russia has decided to deliver S300

missiles, which are anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, that was issued. That was discussed as well. The killing of Boris Nemtsov, the opposition figure

earlier this year also mentioned as well, Vladimir Putin saying he was shot, that it was a tragic and shameful event.

So there are all sorts of issues being discussed, some less serious, I have to say, than others, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, geopolitical issues being discussed. As you mentioned, less serious issues. But it's very interesting to hear that Russia's

economic crisis is being addressed in this highly staged, managed event.

And I wanted to ask you what do critics of the Kremlin make of this? What are they saying about this Putin presser and in the current climate how

(inaudible)?

CHANCE: (AUDIO GAP) has been carefully prepared to give a proper answer to each one of them.

I think it's better to see this event not as an opportunity for Russians to question their leader, but as an opportunity for their leader to set out

his vision for the country. And so, you know, I think it works better to see it in that way. It's just a platform for Vladimir Putin to say what he

thinks and to defend his actions.

(inaudilbe) for instance, within the past few minutes with a miner from the far eastern region, a coal miner, saying, look, we haven't been paid in our

coal mine since December. And Vladimir Putin sat forward on his chair and said, look, you know, I'm going to help you with this. We're specifically

going to stay in touch on this issue to make sure you get all of your wages up to date.

And so (inaudible) but now I'm aware of it. I'm going to help you personally.

So it's kind of designed to (inaudilbe) you know kind of father figure of Russia who can intervene directly in people's lives.

LU STOUT: Digging behind this platform, a very interesting platform indeed, an extended for hours long live Q&A session. Matthew Chance

reporting live from Moscow, thank you.

Now you're watching News Stream. And still to come...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're clearing away for us to get to the cars.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Our CNN crew in Iraq heads for cover as ISIS targets an area where wounded refugees adn fighters are being treated. We'll go live to

Baghdad.

Plus, the UK is preparing to elect a new parliament next month, but one of the top influencers isn't even a candidate. We'll explain.

And, an understated artist. We'll introduce you to one man who is sharing his talent on the streets of China quite literally.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:11:46] LU STOUT: Now a desperate situation is getting worse by the hour in Iraq's Anbar province. A local official tells CNN that ISIS

militants are now trying to seize government buildings in Ramadi. He says they've been held off so far, but another official warns more Iraqi

government reinforcements are needed immediately or local fighters will be forced to withdraw to limit losses.

As the fighting escalates, thousands have been forced from their homes.

Now senior international correspondent Arwa Damon met some of them on their way out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON (voice-over): We were trying to get to Ramadi, instead we came across shell shocked families ISIS had just assaulted in the morning from the

East.

As a security measure, cars are not allowed to cross this bridge, but this is the only way to reach Baghdad. Those fleeing the violence piled their

belongings, children and elderly into metal carts.

Samida Ibrahim (ph) starts crying the moment we approach her.

"They took our homes and kicked us out," she sobs.

For weeks officials and forces in Ramadi have been warning of this, begged for reinforcements and air strikes, but to no avail. And it's not just

Ramadi where people are pleading for help. Between the bridge and Ramadi is Amiriyah (ph) Falluja.

Police Chief Major Ottis Ajenabi (ph) points out the ISIS positions.

DAMON (on camera): So, ISIS is back in that tree line about a kilometer.

(voice-over): "We need coalition support," Ajenabi states. He's been sending ISIS position coordinates to the joint command center, but there

have been no significant strikes or reinforcements. Why? He doesn't know.

ISIS attacks regularly, the hospital exterior scarred with shrapnel. Inside, Ahmed Hussien, a tribal fighter, shot by a sniper in this last

assault on Ramadi, the bullet just missed his heart.

"We didn't leave a single person, we didn't call and ask for back up," he says.

Upstairs, a woman wounded in the town two days ago.

"I was out in the garden and a rocket hit and the shrapnel sliced me," Ahmel Ahkmed (ph) says, tears falling from her eyes. "I felt something fall

out of me, and I put it back in."

A few moments later while we were in another building, ISIS attacks.

(on camera): It was just a massive explosion. We're not sure exactly what. It may have been a rocket or mortar of sorts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They think there is more.

DAMON: They think there is more?

(voice-over): The impact shattered the glass. More explosions in the distance, and then another that shakes the building.

(on camera): They're clearing a way for us to get to the cars.

(voice-over): We are lucky. We are able to leave, and we don't have to make the impossible choice of living under bombardment and ISIS terror or suffer

the indignities of life as a refugee. And if help does not arrive, many more will end up like this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:15:09] LU STOUT: Incredible, an eyeopening reporting there from Arwa Damon and the crew, producer Hamdi al-Chally (ph) and photojournalist Brice

Lane (ph).

Now let's get the latest on the siege that's happening right now in Ramadi. Arwa Damon, she joins us on the line, or live from the Iraqi capital

Baghdad. Arwa, we saw in your report just so many desperate people, families fleeing the fighting. What's happening now inside Ramadi?

DAMON: Quite a few developments, Kristie.

First and foremost speaking about the families that were fleeing. According to the deputy provincial council had upwards of 150 families have

fled the fighting. He was earlier in the day warning that ISIS was closing in dangerously to the city center trying to take over the government

compound.

We just spoke with him in the last hour or so. And he said that the airspace over Ramadi was being dominated by coalition aircraft. That much

needed assistance that he and others inside the city have been calling for appears at this stage to have arrived.

He said that airstrikes took place on the outskirts of Ramadi, blocking off the ISIS logistical routes, preventing reinforcements from reaching the

ISIS fighters inside the city and that this aerial bombardment was also preventing ISIS from advancing further.

The ISIS fighters now, according to him, forced to hold their ground.

But this does not mean that they will be ultimately or easily defeated. He still needs those additional boots on the ground to try to clear ISIS out

of these various buildings. This by all accounts is just the very beginning of what promises to be a long and dificult battle.

Ramadi is not a city that ISIS is going to give up quite so easily.

And of course there are some people that are asking the question of why did it take this long? Why did it take this long for the U.S.-led coalition to

bomb? Why did it take this long for the Iraqi governmetn to ask for these bombings to take place? Because that is the precedure that results in

these airstrikes.

Now of course we can't confirm that these were coalition aircraft. It could hav been the Iraqi air force itself, but it seems for now at least

that ISIS advance has stopped.

LU STOUt: The ISIS advance has stopped for now, but as you mention a long and difficult battle underway as these fierce clashes go on inside Ramadi.

Arwa Damon, many thanks indeed for your reporting.

Now for five years this person's face it was plastered across dozens of fake online accounts. And after the break, we hear from a victim of mass

online identity theft.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:21:28] LU STOUT: A beautiful and clear night tonight, coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

All a criminal has to do in order to mimic your identity online is get his or her hands on a few personal details, or in the case of Jon Chambers, a

few photos.

Now Jon was the victim of digital identity theft on a mass scale. One man falsified dozens of accounts across platforms using Jon's photos. But

apparently no crime was committed. In fact, Jon says the law stood behind his digital asssailant. I recently spoke with him. I started by asking

about how he first learned that his online identity had been compromised.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JON CHAMBERS, FREELANCE CREATIVE CONSULTANT: So, I first found out about this case when I was checking out an old email address that I used to have

for work many, many years ago. And had this very strange email that just said are you the real Jon Chambers? And I was pretty sure that I was. So

on the off chance that it wasn't a scam I responded. And at the time we just thought it was one (inaudible) just turned out to be the tip of the

iceberg. And as I started a conversation with (inaudible)

And he was basically (inaudible) and girls who ranged from sort of very young to sort of mid-20s. And that's what he had done for five years.

LU STOUT: Yeah, and a key detail, this Paul Green (ph) character was, what, in his 60s and he was using your face to approach and to groom and to

go up to younger women on Facebook and other media. It's fortunate that you found him out.

But when you were trying to get your identity back and to end the charade, was there a lot of help available for you?

CHAMBERS: No. There's no help available at all. And actually that's the most worrying thing, which is that there is no crime that he has committed

per se for using my face to do this. And the police don't have the resources to investigate what he's done with my face and who he has spoken

to (inaudible) illegal or not. And that's the most worrying thing.

LU STOUT: (inaudilbe) really had to solve this problem yourself, take matters into your own hands and to safeguard your own digital identity by

taking it back. You've also shared your experiences online. What kind of responses have you received from your writings online?

CHAMBERS: It's been mixed. Some people say it's my fault. You shouldn't put faces -- you know your photos of your face up. You should lock away

your privacy settings, all the same things, all the -- you know, this is just a fact of the internet. This is just what happens.

But that's kind of like saying in the real world, you know, well you put locks on your doors and people come in and steal your stuff anyway. It's

going to happen. And I think we just need to make sure that we've got a response and we start using laws that apply in the rest of this country

online as well. And, you know, the fact that he gets away with it. He can take somebody else's face and do this all again strikes me as wrong.

But, yeah, it's certainly a battle. And the internet companies have got responsibilities as well, I think. It's still the case that Google and

another -- the other companies still have those profiles on their networks. They don't take them down. They don't respond. You can't get in touch

with them, yet that's my intellectual property. That's my face. And there's nothing I can do about it.

[08:25:12] LU STOUT: And what's your advice to our viewers who are watching this. And they're agreeing with you. I don't want to unplug

completely. I still have a dynamic life online or on social media, but how can I best safeguard my digital identity? What's your advice.

CHAMBERS: You make sure you've got a website that says who you are, even if it's just a placeholder. People can find you and then get in touch with

you if they, you know, see somebody using your face or your name. So I think that's important.

But in the same way, you know, hopefully we can work together to make sure that we can change the law and that identity theft does become a crime in

itself so that it can protect people if this happens. And, you know, we should look at holding the internet companies to account to make sure that

it's easier for people to be able to report this stuff and get it taken down.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now despite his extended battle with online fraud, Jon says the experience has not changed how he uses the internet.

Now the police told him the answer was to shut down his presence online, but he says that that is the wrong advice. As Jon says, despite the abuse

and the identity theft the internet is great.

Now you're watching News Stream. Still ahead on the program, British party leaders are set to square off once again in a televised debate. One

participant is considered key in the upcoming election, even though she is not even running.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now South Korea has been holding memorials for victims of the Sewol ferry disaster which happened exctly one year ago today. 304 people died when

the boat sank off Jindo Island, most of them high school students on the field trip. The bodies of nine victims are still missing. Now President

Park Geun-hye is now calling for the sunken ferry to be raised from the sea as soon as possible.

The search zone for missing Malaysia airlines flight 370 is set to double in size if the jetliner is not found by May. Now the jet vanished more

than a year agot with 239 on board. Teams are currently searching a 60,000 square kilometer area in the Indian Ocean.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is more than three hours into his live annual Q&A session. The Kremlin says around 2.4 million questions were

submitted by the public. And conderning Russia's trouble economy he said most of his advisers believe that the worst is over.

Israel (inaudible) the 6 million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis. Sirens wailed across the country today to mark holocaust remembrance day.

Several official commemorations are being held.

Now let's return to South Korea where it has been a day of mourning. Paula Hancocks joins me now from Seoul. And Paula, as South Korea marks this

terrible and grim tragedy on this anniversary of his day its president is making a pledge to the families of the victims. What can you tell us?

[08:30:29] HANCOCKS: Well, Kristie, she has said that the ferry will be raised. And this has been a question for many months now. Families wanting

to kno whether or not they would try and salvage the ferry. In particular, the families of nine victims who have yet to be found. They wanted the

ferry to be raised so that they had a chance to finding the bodies of their loved ones.

Now there have been memorials throughout the day. Many people across the country coming to pay their respects to 304 people that lost their lives in

that tragedy a year ago today

Now just in the last 10 minutes, there has been other developments as well. There was a commemoration in a central downtown Seoul proper and now

several thousand people have started marching down the streets saying that they want to march onto the presidential compount to protest about what

they believe is a lack of transparency with the investigation into the Sewol thinking.

Now certainly (inaudible) have protected this move. They've blocked off the roads. There was a standoff at this point between several thousand

protesters, many of them parts of the opposition political parties and the police.

There's certainly alongside the grief that is being felt a year after this tragedy, there was a lot of dissidents and anger on the streets of Seoul as

well -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, a feeling of grief mixed with anger this day. You're reporting on this protest that has erupted in the center of Seoul, this

angry protest targeting the government of South Korea. Is it your sense that that pledge made earlier today by the South Korean president to

salvage the ship that that pledge is not enough to quell the anger out there?

HANCOCKS: Well, we've been speaking to some of the families and certainly the committee that looks after the families, and they say quite frankly it

was not enough. They wanted to know when the ship would be salvaged. They wanted this announcement many months ago and have been calling for it for

many months.

And they also said that they don't believe she's gone far enough in talkign about the investigation. She didn't mention anything about the

investigation on this day in this speec. And quite frankly, they just weren't happy with what she said.

But the bitterness and the anger is such among some of these families that no matter what she said they would not have been happy. We know that one

of the memorials down in Amsang (ph), which is where the school is based, where 215 schoolchildren, 11 teachers, lost their lives. That was ended

early after this speech becuase of the anger. Many of the families say that they simply don't want a memorial until the ship has been salvaged,

until they know exactly what heppened on that day.

And they really feel like they're not getting the answers that they want -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Emotions there still very much raw. A painful anniversary on this day. Paula Hancocks joining me on the line live form Seoul, thank

you.

Now to the UK where five party leaders are about to debate some of the big issues facing the country ahead of next month's election. Now Thursday's

televised event should last about an hour-and-a-half and will include questions from the sueienc.e

Now some woman taking part in that debate could help determine who runs the country once the votes are counted. Now her name Nicola Sturgeon. Now she

leads the fast growing Scottish National Party.

As Phil Black reports, she has a plan for seeing David Cameron and his conservatives swept from power.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This woman has become the clear breakout star of the UK election campaign. It's possible she could

decide who becomes Britain's next prime minister. And she's not even a candidate.

Cameras follow Nicola Sturgeon everywhere now. She's Scotland's first minister, the head of its local govenment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please welcome our new party leader...

BLACK: But she's also leader of the Scottish National Party, or SNP, which looks on track to perform so strongly in the coming national election

it will change politics across the UK.

It would be an extrordinary result. After her party pushed forth and lost a referendum of Scottish independence last year.

What's your take on what's actually happening here?

NICOLA STURGEON, SNP LEADER: Oh, after the referendum in which Scotland voted no and against independence, I think there was a feeling in Scotland

on the part of both yes voters and no voters that we don't want Scotland to go back to being seen and not heard by the Westminster establishment, we

want...

BLACK: The Westminster establishment is unkind code for politicians in London. And Sturgeon outshined their biggest names, including the prime

minister, during a recent party leader's debate.

STURGEON: So, I don't agree with the cuts proposed by the Torries, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. I take a different view. We should have modest

spending increases.

[08:35:13] BLACK: Sturgeon's leadership has inspired surging SNP membership. True believers are taking the party's campaign door to door,

on the streets, and in campagin offices. Volunteers speak glowingly about their leader.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, she is excellent. She is brilliant.

BLACK: But they're also fired up by the bruising experience of that failed independence referendum.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have not given up, we just got stronger and stronger and continue to do so.

BLACK: Opinion polls consistently suggest the SNP will win most of the parliamentary seats in Scotland, tearing them away from Britain's main

opposition party Labour.

The working class districts of Scotland have long been Labour's heartland. Without them, it has little chance of forming a majority government. So

Nicola Sturgeon is promoting a radical alternative, an unofficial alliance to force the ruling conservative party from power.

Your preferred outcome.

A minority Labour government, it would probably be weak, problems with legitimacy, propped up by you, your party would have enormous influence in

national affairs, but still seem to be plotting to break away from the union. There would be a perception problem there, wouldn't there?

STURGEON: Well, you know, I've got to -- what (inaudible) should I change that perception? And it's really important to every single person in

Scotland that the decisions taken at Westminster are better decisions. So we've got a vested interest in making sure...

BLACK: Better for the United Kingdom.

STURGEON: Well, better for everybody.

BLACK: The race between Labour and the Conservatives is too close to call, but whichever forms government will likely have to work with a new large

and empowered bloc of Scottish parliaentarians and their highly popular and effective party leader.

Phil Black, CNN, Glasgow, Scotland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now the name Chun Lan Gua might not be well known yet in China, but his art is quickly becoming very well known. Netizens in China have

been sharing it across social media.

Now the artist lost his leg after becoming sick. And he's been living on the streets for several decades, but sketching beautiful chaulk creations

across China. One of his most recent pieces, it should look familiar, it's a recreation of the Mona Lisa. He drew that in the city on Hongzhou

yesterday.

And here is the famous Chinese scientist Albert Einstein. He sketcted this on Monday.

And finally, another familiar face, the U.S. President Barack Obama.

Now Chun says the donations he gets from people on the streets help him continue what he loves to do.

Now, you're watching News Stream. Still to come on the program, you've heard of energy efficient homes, but what about homes that only consume as

much energy as they produce? Now scientists are trying to prove net zero is possible when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now nowadays many people are turning toward energy efficient homes to reduce the carbon footprint, but what if you could live in a house that

doesn't use any electricity from the grid? Well, thanks to technology that could be your next home.

Richard Quest explains in this week's tomorrow transformed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:40:01] RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ove the years we've all increased the amount of technology in our homes. And that's

meant increased demands from the electric grid. So we turn to solar and wind power as renewables became all the rage.

Being energy efficient is just the start. Imagine if your home provided all its own energy. For instance, the heat from the television powers your

coffee maker.

This house can do just that.

On the outside, it looks like any other home in suburban Washington, D.C. On the inside, it's a laboratory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We take over 500 readings of data every minute.

QUEST: The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST for short, built this house to prove that net zero is possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So a net zero energy home is a home that over the course of the year produces as much energy as it consumed. We have a

virtual family that lives here and they perform all the same functions that you would with your own family. So, we have devices, for example, that

emulate a toaster, a blender, a hand mixes. And all of these devices operate at a precise time according to a schedule so that the home is

occupied as a home normally would be.

QUEST: In the first year, the house went way beyond net zero. It actually produced a surplus. Enough energy was left over to drive an electric

vehicle 1,400 miles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Richard Quest there.

Now today marks three weeks since the start of an airstrike campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Now Yemen's vice president says he hopes

the Saudi-led coalition does not send in ground troops. Khaled Bahah made those remarks in Riyadh last month. Yemen's foreign minister urged Saudi

Arabia to deploy boots on the ground.

Now clashes have partly been intensifying in the coastal city of Aden. And it comes as the UN special envoy to Yemen resigns.

A lot to get to now. And CNN's Nima Elbagir joins us now from Aden with more.

And Nima, what are you seeing there on the ground? What has been the toll of the fighting and the airstrikes there in Aden?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.

Well, you can really see this -- the streets are pretty empty. The sound of shelling was just starting to boom as we tried to get down to the port

to get on board the boat that brought us in from Djibouti as quickly as possible, becuase this is the time, really, where most people in Aden stay

at home from the late afternoon onward it is shelling, it is aerial bombardment and it is absolutely terrifying is what we're hearing from

everyone we've spoken to.

Queues for cooking gas, queues for bread, electricity limited to only a few hours a day.

We visited one hospital where they said that they stopped counting the numbers of the dead and the dying that are brought into them. They think

that already the (inaudilbe) is in its hundreds. They believe that the majority of those killed, the 800 or so that the United Nations believes

has been killed in Aden, those doctors that we've been speaking to -- sorry, I should say in Yemen, the doctors we've been speaking to in Aden,

Kristie, they believe that they make up more than half of that death toll.

And just a sense of desperation. We spoke to some of the military commanders. They say that they feel that they are pushing back some of the

Houthi forces, but the reality is that the reinforcements, the armament that the Saudis are sending in, in unguided parachutes, many of them are

falling back into the hands of the Houthi forces.

It was a desperate, desperate scene that we found here in Aden, Kristie.

LU STOUT: There in Aden, you're reporting the scenes of devastation, desperate scenes around you. What is the state of play for the Houthi

rebels? How hard have they been hit by these Saudi-led airstrikes in Aden? How much control do the rebels still have there?

ELBAGIR: There is definitely a sense that after -- well, the three weeks in finally the Saudis are making some impact with their airstrikes. But

given how far along we are into this offensive, the expectation would have been definitely given the aerial cover that the Saudis were providing to

forces, that the government loyalist forces here on the ground that the Houthi forces would have been pushed far, farther back. But that hasn't

happened.

The government loyalists have gained territory. That is why we were able to dock, really, because there is area that is stably in government hand

around one of the smaller ports.

But Aden port itself, which is hugely strategic going forward for any potential ground incursion, if it comes, it will need to be reinforced and

supplied from somewhere. And Aden port is very much at the top of the list of areas they need to go to.

That is still split between the Houthis and the government loyalists. There is a sense, really, that not enough has been -- in terms of what the

Saudis set out to do.

And even speaking to the government loyalists, they've been very frank with us, Kristie. They say we are outgunned, that we are fighting a force that

is much more superior to us in terms of the armament, in terms of the tanks, the artillery that they have. We're fighting them with automatic

machine guns. And those reinforcements aren't getting in to us in time -- Kristie.

[08:45:19] LU STOUT: Nima Elbagir reporting live on the line, exclusive reporting there from CNN's Nima Elbagir. She and CNN's crew now inside

Aden reporting on the devastation caused by weeks of war inside Yemen.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.

END