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Small Fire Extinguished Near U.S. Capitol With D.C. On Edge; Biden To Rejoin Paris Agreement, Lift Travel Ban On Day One; CNN Goes Inside A Vaccine Center In The UAE; Row Over Responsibility For COVID Vaccines; Migrants Hopeful About Biden Trying To Reach U.S.; Jordan's Vaccine Rollout Includes Refugees. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 18, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here on the streets of Washington, D.C., it does feel somewhat like the calm before the storm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a profound threat from domestic violent extremists of the nature that we saw in January 6th.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want to see fences, we definitely don't want to see armed troops on our streets, but we do have to take a different
posture.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Protests have popped off in a handful of states.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wanted to make sure that want happened in Washington do not happen here in Michigan.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: So I guess this is farewell in less than 48 hours, Donald J. Trump will leave the White House. His legacy
however, won't disappear as quickly. There is no better example of that than on the streets of Washington, D.C.
The Capitol on high alert ahead of President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. Case in point, there was a small fire outside of the Capitol
involving a tent that was quickly put out just moments ago and police told everybody in the U.S. Capitol building to stay inside.
According to a fire department spokesman, it was a nonevent, but two days before the inauguration, it is an event. Meantime, some 25,000 National
Guard troop are to be on the ground for these swearing in and that's about twice the usual about for an inauguration. We're learning that all of the
guards deployed are being vetted with growing concerns of an insider attack.
Well, over the weekend more alleged extremists were charged in connection with the Capitol insurrection. You're looking at shocking new video from
inside that domestic terror attack released by "The New Yorker" magazine and we will have more on that in a moment. First up though, Jessica
Schneider gives us a look at the unprecedented show of force on the streets of Washington D.C. ahead of Wednesday's event.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Barbed wire and barricades surround the U.S. Capitol under the close watch of the National
Guard this morning the elevated security across Washington, D.C., a response to the deadly insurrection earlier this month.
All an effort to prevent similar chaos at President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration Wednesday up to 25,000 National Guard troops could join other
law enforcement agencies in the nation's Capitol. And the inauguration rehearsal originally scheduled for Sunday was pushed to today amid reports
of online chatter, but the Department of Homeland Security says there are no credible threats right now.
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): There is a profound threat from domestic violent extremists, of the nature we saw on January 6th. I think inauguration will
proceed and it will proceed safely. But there will be gatherings of individuals and those gatherings could too turn violent so there is a very
high level of risk.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Some small groups gathered in state Capitols across the country greeted by a large police presence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We kind of looked everything from last week. Some of the chatter that we heard from FBI and some of the social media there that we
wanted to make sure that what happened in Washington did not happen here in Michigan, so we put a lot more security outside, and a lot more visible
security.
SCHNEIER (voice over): In D.C. police arresting a 22-year-old man near a security checkpoint Sunday for allegedly carrying a gun and nearly 40
rounds of ammunition as well as a woman Saturday stopped at a checkpoint impersonating a police officer, and with the heightened security close to
major Washington landmarks, D.C.'s Mayor says she is fearful rioters could target other parts of this city in the coming days.
MURIEL BROWSER, WASHINGTON, DC MAYOR: Now we don't want to see fences, we definitely don't want to see armed troops on our streets, but we do have to
take a different posture.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): This as more footage of the pro-Trump mob storming of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month surfaces. The "New Yorker" releasing
this video showing the trail of destruction left behind by insurrectionist, authorities arresting more people involved in the riot. CUOY GRIFFIN,
CAPITOL RIOTS SUSPECT: I went there to support my president and stand up for our country.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Among them Cuoy Griffin a New Mexico County Commissioner who was detained just blocks away from the U.S. Capitol
building Sunday. The District of Columbia Attorney General warns President Trump could possibly be charged in relation to the coup attempt.
KARL RACINE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: You have to be you know incredibly diligent and responsible whenever you're going to charge
anyone, the president is not above the law, and he is not below the law. Our charge is a misdemeanor a six month in jail maximum.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, how does one spend their final full day as president? Well, in the case of Mr. Trump, doling out pardons, roughly 100 of them. CNN
beginning to learn who is on the list, and most notably however are those who did not make the cut?
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: The president himself and his family, aides are also trying to keep those who stormed the Capitol off that list a decision that Republican
Senator Lindsey Graham backs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): There are a lot of people urging the president to pardon folks who participated in defiling the Capitol and the rioters I
don't care if you went to spread flowers on the floor, you breeched the security of the Capitol and interrupted a joint session of congress. You
tried to intimidate us all, and you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and to seek a pardon of these people would be wrong. I
think it would destroy President Trump, and I hope we don't go down that road.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, as we learn more about outgoing President Trump's final day in office, we are also learning about the incoming president's plans on day
one. Joe Biden is set to sign a slew of executive orders on Wednesday. Many of which will reverse several Trump-era decisions.
The actions include rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, lifting the travel ban from predominantly Muslim countries and issuing a mask mandate on all
federal government properties and pausing student loan payments and convictions during the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE BEDINGFIELD, INCOMING WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: You're going to see him move on promises that he made on the campaign trail to
ensure that we are focused on workers. You will see him make good on his buy American promise. You're going to see him make good on promises to move
us to, toward a more just and racially equitable society. You're going to see him make movement on racial equity and you're going to see him make
movement on climate, on jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Joe Johns is with us now from the White House. What you will not see Joe Biden do on day one, and one assumes and correct me if I
am wrong is to be doling out any pardons. This is shaping up to be another historic week in Washington. Joe, let's start with Donald Trump's last act.
Who are we expecting to be seeing pardoned by the president in his final day?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That is a very good question. It is funny we were expecting a lot more pardons by this time.
Apparently, it all got stalled due to riots up on Capitol Hill, and the congressional response and then the impeachment of the president slowed
down substantially.
What we know is that sources have told CNN that the president is probably going to pardon about 100 people in there, and we expect to see some white-
collar criminals perhaps some high profile rappers. It is most interesting that the president has kind of taken this process over from the Justice
Department which has traditionally done it.
Very clear that the president wants to have his own hand in that as we all know that he is quite transactional and tends to like to dole out gifts in
the hope that some time in the future those promises that he made and those gifts that he gave may be returned in favors.
So we don't know names of individuals that the president is likely to pardon, but we expect he won't be pardoning himself. And that is very
significant, because a lot of people thought that he would, and the number of reasons for that is if he doesn't do it, first of all, there a question
about the legality of it.
And second, there's the impeachment trial looming on Capitol Hill, and if the president were to pardon himself might not only suggest that he is
guilty of some crime, but he also quite frankly might create some heat in the United States Senate which is what he does not want to do, because the
Senate of course is where the impeachment trial will be held. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and more on that of course as we get it. Joe Biden has plenty on his agenda and what do you make of what's being announced as far
as his first few days are concerned?
JOHNS: Well, the one thing that is very clear is that he wants to hit the ground running. There is a clear desire here with Joe Biden and the people
in his administration to create a sense of momentum and not just that, but to go in a 180 degree opposite direction from a number of the biggest
executive actions and other policy prescriptions that the Trump Administration has put in. So you look at rescinding the travel ban on
mostly Muslim countries or returning to the Paris Accords, and the environmental accords.
[11:10:00]
JOHNS: These are controversial areas where Donald Trump went one way, and is very clear Joe Biden wants to go in exactly the opposite direction,
Becky.
ANDERSON: Joe Johns is in Washington. Good luck this week, sir.
JOHNS: You bet. Thank you, much.
ANDERSON: --I'll have to say that to our correspondent, thank you. Well, just a few moments ago you saw in Jessica Dean's report a small clip of
what is the shocking new video from inside of the Capitol that left five people dead nearly two weeks ago. I want to get you some more of that now.
The footage has been released by the "New Yorker" magazine, and it is shows the frightening moments.
Rioters stormed into the building shouting "treason" and searching door to door for U.S. lawmakers. I'm going to warn you some of the video you're
about to see is disturbing and we have left in the swearing we think it is important to that you see at the full truth of what happened that day?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do not stand down. You are outnumbered.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let us through--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let the people in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you guys, take it easy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Treason, treason, treason, treason, treason, treason, treason--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Defend your liberty. Defend your constitution. Defend your liberty. Defend your constitution.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 1776.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guess what, America showed up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is the rest of everybody? Everybody?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where - are they? Where are they?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: While we are here we might as well set up a government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Treason, treason.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Take a seat, people. Let's vote on some --.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, this is our chair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I agree with you, brother, but it is not ours. It belongs to the Vice President of the United States when he is here. It is
not our chair. Look, I love you guys, and you are brothers, but we can't be disrespectful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make it feel - in their chair?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we are not putting up with that either. Look it is a PR War. We can't lose the IO war. We can't lose the IO war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're better than that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is information operation. We can't do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want a snap of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, how did you get down there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go down the stairs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ted Cruz's objection to the Arizona--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, objection, he was going to sell us out all along.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection to counting the electoral votes on the State of Arizona--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not that's objection?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There has got to be something here that we can use against the scumbags.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, no, this is good stuff.
[11:15:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, quit acting a fool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a good one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that he would want us to do this. I think that we are good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: --man. Look at this guy. Hey, you need medical attention? Where you been?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got shot in the face with some kind of plastic bullet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any chance that I could get you guys to leave the Senate wing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to make sure they are not disrespecting the place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. I just want to let you guys know this is like the most sacred place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I'm going to take it - because Mike Pence is a traitor. I am not one to take pictures of myself, but in this stage I think
I'm - want to make an exception. Hey, can you take my picture with my phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, hey. Thank you. I ain't got a choice. There are a half a million people here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You went straight on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You should be talking that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is doing the right thing. He is obeying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am making sure that you guys don't do anything else. Now that you have done that I'm not let you guys to walk out of this room
please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have allowed you to do that, will you please walk out. I feel like you are pushing the line here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is our Capitol. Let's be respectful to it. There are 4 million people coming in, and there is a lot of control. Hey, we love
you guys. We love the cops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is only a matter of time. Justice is coming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four millions of people are coming from everywhere all of the way back to the monument.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jesus Christ, we invoke your name. Let's say a prayer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our heavenly father, we thank you for this opportunity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for this opportunity to stand up for this opportunity to stand up for our inalienable rights, and thank you for these
police officers to allow us to send a message to the communists and the globalists that this is our nation and not theirs, and that we will not
allow the America wave of the United States to go down.
Thank you, divine - creative guide for filling this chamber with the white light of love. If you - white harmony and thank you for filling this
chamber with the patriots that love you and that love God. Thank you to - omnipotent for blessing each and every one of us here now. Thank you,
divine God for your omnipotent white light of love, protection, peace and harmony.
Thank you allowing the United States of America to be born. Thank you for allowing us to get - communists, the globalist and the traitors - we love
you. We thank you. And in Christ's holy name we pray. Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We know that you are doing your job. We appreciate you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is all they got.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, I think that deserves some pause for thought. We are going to take a very short break. You are watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson and
this is CONNECT THE WORLD stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, the UAE and Israel are leading the world COVID vaccine rollout per person, and we are -- this hour we're going to connect to both.
Israel overall has vaccinated more people per capita but as you can see here over the last seven days the Emirates where the population of 10
million really picking up the pace. Anyone over the age of 60 and who wants a vaccination here can get one for free. We are based here of course in Abu
Dhabi so I popped out to find out how all of this is working?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice over): More than 80,000 people a day in the UAE are now getting vaccinated. And it is centers like this that are spearheading that
campaign. 2 million doses of the vaccinate have now been delivered. That is 1 in 5 of the population and by mid-March, authorities tell us that they
hoped to have vaccinated more than half of the adult population in the country.
And this process is pretty simple. Like for 18-year-old American Anya who is a resident here in UAE, after booking an appointment, and waiting a day
or two, you get a ticket, and wait a few minutes and fill in some paperwork, and within a couple of minutes, you'll be inside one of these
rooms.
Hello. Hi, guys. Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.
ANDERSON (on camera): If you were in the states, you'd be waiting months for this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, definitely.
ANDERSON (on camera): How are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.
ANDERSON (on camera): Nervous?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kind of.
ANDERSON (on camera): Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a new vaccine, and it is nerve-racking.
ANDERSON (on camera): How are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congratulations. You have finished the second round.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantastic.
ANDERSON (on camera): That is two doses, and you are done.
ANDERSON (voice over): And it is a similar message from everyone that we spoke to. How are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm feeling quite excited to have this vaccine.
ANDERSON (on camera): Any reservations?
PRAKASH KISHINCHAND, LIVES IN ABU DHABI: Not at all. I trust in the decisions taken by the government. And it is for our own safety, and so no
reservations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take a deep breath, sir deep breath, deep breath, finished, sir.
KISHINCHAND: That is great.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't really feel it to be honest with you literally seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Take a deep breath.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it in? I don't feel like.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is in there already.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't feel it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very easy when it is in. At least I did not feel anything.
ANDERSON (voice over): After watching shot after shot going into people's arms, I went to meet this center's General Manager.
ANDERSON (on camera): This is the Sinopharm vaccine. Let me just show you what we've got here. The efficacy rate on this is --?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 86 percent.
ANDERSON (on camera): 86 percent, and how many of these are you administering every day?
DR. DANA AL MARZOUQI, ABU DHABI COVID-19 VACCINATION CENTER MANAGER: So the average of the vaccination is 3,000. We vaccinate the people after 21 days.
ANDERSON (on camera): There are those who have reservations about taking the vaccination, and to those people you say what?
DR. AL MARZOUQI: Yes, it is always less risky to take the vaccine than actually have the actual disease.
ANDERSON (on camera): And particularly with the COVID numbers ticking up here in the UAE, it is a message that government is pushing harder than
ever, and alongside more of a pressure, it is putting up billboards encouraging people to get the vaccine right away.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON (on camera): And on this wall really says it all. Thank you, it says, from our frontline heroes, a world leading immunization program here
in the UAE that will help not just the Emirates but the rest of the world get back on its feet to which I say we salute you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And we're going to be talking more about vaccines here in the Middle East. Coming up, we are going to get you to the Jerusalem
neighborhood that highlights the stark vaccination divide between Israel and the Palestinian authority.
High praise for Jordan on its vaccination rollout for its hundreds of thousands of refugees and I'll be talking to the Jordanian Health Minister
Dr. Natheer Obeidat in just a few minutes.
Well, those stories up ahead first let's get you up to speed on some of the other news on our radar right now. South Korea's President believes that
the country will have complete herd immunity from COVID-19 by November. Moon Jay-in says vaccines procured through the World Health Organization's
global project may arrive in the country earlier than planned.
Well, China's economy grew in 2020 as the pandemic sunk, other major economies into recession, it expanded by 2.3 percent compared to a year
earlier, and it was still China's slowest annual growth in decades. China is the only major economy that the IMF expected to grow at all.
And nine people linked to the Australian Open have tested positive for the virus including one unnamed tennis player. 72 tennis players are currently
in hotel quarantine ahead of the tournament. Now some of the quarantined players complained that their competitors will have an advantage.
Australia has banned foreign arrivals and enforced hotel quarantine since March in a bid to contain the virus. Busy show, lots going on, and we will
be right back, don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, we have talked this hour how the UAE - is vaccinating its people at record speed, and the UAE and Israeli had the highest rates in
the world. The Israeli government has already vaccinated over 20 percent of its population, but for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, it is a
different story.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: United Nations says Israel is an occupying power and as such has a responsibility to vaccinate Palestinians. Israel says it is the job of
the Palestinian authority. CNN's Sam Kiley is in Jerusalem with more. Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, as you pointed out, you have a difference of opinion to say the least between the
Palestinians and UN experts who were saying that Israel is responsible for mass inoculation of the Palestinians as the occupying power under the
Geneva Convention article IV.
And the Israel is saying, no, they don't accept that responsibility, and then in the middle, you have a got quite a lot of gray areas and this is
what our report is about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (voice over): This Jewish man and this Arab resident of Jerusalem have something life saving in common. They both have got Israeli I.D. cards
and can therefore benefit from Israel's world leading anti-COVID vaccination program.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on track to meet his claim of inoculating Israel's entire 9 million populations by the end of March, but
that, says the United Nations is not good enough. The UN insists that Israel is the occupying power is responsible for ensuring more that 4.5
million Palestinians also get vaccinated.
Morally and legally, this differential access to necessary health care in the midst of the worst global health crisis in a century is unacceptable
the UN experts said.
KILEY (on camera): A recent study produced by Ben Salem and Israeli human rights group now says that the treatment of Palestinians across the whole
area under Israeli control is so unequal they have labeled it apartheid.
KILEY (voice over): Israel's Embassy in London dismissed the report as not based in reality but on a distorted ideological view. Israel also rejected
claims that it was responsible for the health of Palestinians insisting that the Palestinian authority was in charge.
YULI EDELSTEIN, ISRAELI HEALTH MINISTER: We are trying to get as many vaccines as possible, but our calculation was based on the Israeli
citizens. It will get to the situation where the old - in this country who want to be vaccinated will be vaccinated and we will be more than ready to
share the vaccines with our neighbors. At this stage, we are talking about the Israeli citizens.
KILEY (voice over): This is - a Palestinian town annexed illegally according to the international law to Jerusalem by Israel. It is cut off
from the city by a security wall. Some Palestinians here like Anan on the right can get the COVID vaccine with the Israeli I.D.s, but others like
Mahmoud on the left, cannot.
He is racists Mahmud says. Anan says half of the people here cannot take it, and also, I'm not going to take pit. Why would I take it when they
can't? I won't. The Palestinian authority hospitals are struggling for funds after Donald Trump cut U.S. aide of 200 million to the Palestinians
in 2018, still the Palestinian authority says its' hoping to import vaccines soon, but it is struggling amid a worldwide shortage.
The percentage of the Palestinian patients infected with COVID-19 who die is about 1.1 percent, and Israel is 0.7 percent but worse is the U.S. at
1.7 percent or the U.K. 2.6 percent, yet infection rates are climbing and medics here cannot get vaccinations.
WAFA SHIHADEH, RAMALLAH CENTRAL HOSPITAL: We are starting to feel to get depressed, because we're not getting the vaccines here in Palestinian
territories in Palestine, and we are seeing our, at the borders of the other side of the borders, Israel are getting I think three days ago a
1,600,000 people got vaccinated and here in Palestine, the number of people vaccinated is zero.
KILEY (voice over): A statistic that shocks few Palestinians, but it certain to add to the bitterness so many already feels towards their
efficient and powerful neighbor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (on camera): Now Becky in that context, there remains deep concerns across the region about how to achieve herd immunity? As we have seen in
the Emirates, it is everybody who lives in the Emirates who gets access it to; in Israel foreigners inside the Israeli territory who have work permits
and so on are getting inoculations according to their age range.
[11:35:00]
KILEY: But they accept the Israelis at least that ultimately, it does not make to be inoculating only Israelis and they want to see the Palestinians
get inoculated. They said - they are focusing on the Israelis at least for now.
ANDERSON: So Sam, what are the Palestinians doing about getting the vaccines themselves?
KILEY: Well, they are strapped for cash. They have had a series of cuts particularly from funding of the United States, even to hospitals in East
Jerusalem received a cut in funding from the Trump Administration. They are saying however that they are in the final stages of negotiations for the
Russian vaccine and others around the world.
They hoped that they will be able to purchase about 70 percent of what they need and another 20 percent coming at least or 20-plus percent coming from
the global fund to help out impoverished countries to get access to the vaccine and they're trying to find the funds for the final 10 percent from
elsewhere.
But of course, there is also a worldwide shortage and they have very little leverage if you like in the marketplace. I think to a great extent that's
why they would have wanted or would have insisted or tried to insist on being wrapped in with the Israelis aside of course from the wider legal
controversies there. Becky?
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley is in Jerusalem for you, and we will be speaking to the Jordanian Health Minister just ahead. Back after this very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At first, I was afraid, but when I saw the motivated, happy and united people, my fear was gone. Thank God we got through the
first part in Guatemala and if God loves it we will go further.
[11:40:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With faith we can achieve anything. We just have to have faith.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first thing that we will do when we arrive in the United States is to find a job. We try to always try to think about our
families so that this thought motivates us to reach out and try to help those who have helped us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The caravan of thousands of migrants mostly from Honduras is headed towards the United States. Guatemalan security clashed with some of
the migrants over the weekend trying to keep that caravan under control and prevent more people from joining it.
Now the migrants expect the U.S. to be more welcoming under President-Elect Joe Biden than it was under Donald Trump. Biden has promised to make
immigration reform one of his first priorities. Well, CNN's Patrick Oppmann is following the story for us and he joins me now.
Many, many people making this dangerous journey based on this belief that Joe Biden's arrival in the White House, Patrick, will - will reveal a
softer approach to U.S. immigration. Let's just have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARLON LOPEZ, HONDURAN MIGRANT: I'm here today, because I am dreaming to get to the U.S. Biden, he is going to help all of us. He has given us 100
days to get to the U.S., and give us legal paper so we can get a better life for our kids and family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, Joe Biden has promised to overall U.S. immigration laws, but he has also warned that reform will not happen overnight, so what will
happen to these people if they make it to the U.S. border at this point? Is it clear?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the first question is can they make it at all? And you already saw those intense clashes from over the
weekend where Guatemalan security officials used batons and stun grenades and tear gas, and they are likely expects a similar reception when they
arrive to Mexico.
And we have already heard that the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this morning saying he is coordinating not only with the Trump
Administration, but with the Biden Administration about essentially stopping this group of migrants from traveling through Mexico and reaching
the U.S. border.
And of course they travel in such large groups and I have traveled with them in the past, because they are going through some of the most dangerous
territory in Mexico if not the world, areas that are controlled by drug gangs that target these migrants, and when they get to the border, of
course, Joe Biden has said that he might, might make it easier for immigration to happen, and he might make it easier for migrants like this
to ask for asylum at the border and make it for them to enter the United States.
As you said, Becky, not going to happen right away, and so at this moment, they will not receive a very different reception, and if they even make it
all the way to the U.S./Mexican border then they have under the Trump Administration which is basically that you cannot ask for asylum at the
border. They have to remain in Mexico while your sound case is being heard, and while they seemed to have this idea that overnight when President-Elect
Joe Biden takes office on Wednesday things will change, and the hard truth is that they will not.
ANDERSON: Well, the Trump Administration, of course Patrick, has spent the last few years pressuring governments in Central America and indeed in
Mexico to put an end to these large scale mobilizations of migrants and they have pretty much said by using whatever means necessary.
And now witness the violence as these Guatemalan soldiers tried to disperse these people using as you described tear gas and batons, do you expect
sadly we might see more violent clashes as this "Caravan" heads north and authorities of course trying to contain it?
OPPMANN: Well, we have already seen images of the Mexican police and National Guard starting to secure the southern border which is really
usually most days quite open. I have been there and you just walk people either - watch people either just swim across the river which is not very
deep or actually take little ferries that have been set up that are not legal, but are they every day in open view.
So certainly in the days ahead, we will see if the Mexican President and Mexican government keep the agreement they have had with the Trump
Administration not to let migrants enter their territory and as we have seen over previous years that they stop them on this long journey north.
Some will probably make it, but that does not mean they will be able to cross the border easily, and it is unlikely they will be able to seek
asylum. But this is a region that was already beset with problems, Becky, and in the last year, has been hit by two major hurricanes, the pandemic
has just increased.
[11:45:00]
OPPMANN: The violence and the poverty and hunger, famine that we have seen grow in the last several years, so the people in these caravans are not
doing it because they want to, because they have no other choice.
ANDERSON: Thank you, sir. Patrick Oppmann on the story, and you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. We will be right back.
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ANDERSON: We have been tracking vaccination rates around the world this hour and mostly here in the UAE and in Israel. I want also to look at an
especially difficult situation facing Jordan on this front which is home to some 750,000 refugees.
It is now one of the first countries on the planet to roll out a national vaccination campaign that includes everyone, and not only its citizens, but
also refugees and asylum seekers. Jordan's King got the ball rolling giving the vaccine shot to his royal stamp of approval last week. He got the jab
in the hope of instilling confidence in the vaccine.
And his country is working hard to get a grip on the pandemic and Jordan mourning more than 4,000 deaths from the virus, so it is keeping its curfew
in place, but it has just relaxed some weekend lockdown rules. Well, I'm connecting you now with the Jordanian Health Minister Dr. Natheer Obeidat
who joins me from Aman.
Your country's fight against the pandemic certainly started off on a high, it was one of the most successful countries in the world at the outset in
sort of containing this virus, but things really went downhill. Do you think that the government and indeed your department possibly celebrated
victory too soon, sir?
DR. NATHEER OBEIDAT, JORDANIAN HEALTH MINISTER: Thank you for the question. I think that as you said the Jordan is improving from epidemic point of
view the epidemiological care is improving actually for the last eight weeks we are seeing improvement in the number of cases, number of death and
number of positivity of cases.
[11:50:00]
DR. OBEIDAT: And the positivity will decline from 26 persons to now 4 persons in the last week. So I think that we are in the right direction,
but I think again, still we're dealing with this pandemic and our work against the pandemic continues.
ANDERSON: Yes. Sorry. Continue if you will.
DR. OBEIDAT: And so - sorry for that.
ANDERSON: OK. Too early to celebrate, and certainly you understand how tough things are? Jordan just like many other countries around the world
having to wait in line for enough doses of the vaccination to cover its population, and you know, very clear that Jordan hosts a large population
of refugees, and many of whom are registered with the UNHCR. How many are you hoping that you will be able to vaccinate, sir?
DR. OBEIDAT: Actually for now, we have an agreement with the vaccine companies to cover 25 percent of Jordanians, but we are happy to increase
this percentage and to cover even more than 30 percent this depends on the availability of the vaccines.
As you know, it is not easy to get the vaccines now and every company is saying that we have shortage in the supply of the vaccines. So, as we are
planning to cover 25 to 30 percent of the population, but for now we have agreement with the vaccine company to cover 25 percent.
ANDERSON: OK. That's clear. I know that the UNHCR is heavily involved with the vaccination distribution to refugees around Jordan. I just want our
viewers to hear this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAYALY GHARAYBEH, UNHCR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER: The refugees are identified for the vaccine in the same way citizens are, everybody has to log into the
platform, register, and according to the system that has been put by the government priority in phase I will be given to those who are elderly with
the chronic diseases.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Refugees and citizens alike having to register on the government platform as I understand it to receive the vaccine only a small
number have actually signed up. What do you believe is behind this hesitancy, sir?
DR. OBEIDAT: OK. I think that the registration is a continuous process. For now, we have around 300,000 people that are registered on the platform. But
I think this is just the start of the process, because every day we see that many people are register on this platform, and I think people now they
are less hesitant to register and to take the vaccine, because after we start the vaccination program, I think now people they are more confident
to take the vaccine.
I am happy with that, and I think we will continue successfully applying our program, and to reach our goal in vaccinating at least 25 percent of
the population.
ANDERSON: And Health Minister, Jordan should be applauded for the efforts that it is making with regard including the refugees and asylum seekers in
its vaccine rollout program. And we also understand, you know, how limited the access is at this stage to vaccines for everybody? What help if any do
you need from the international community at this point?
DR. OBEIDAT: Actually, I think that we in Jordan, we don't have priority for Jordanian. We think all people who live in Jordan land they have the
right to take the vaccine now.
[11:55:00]
DR. OBEIDAT: So, as you said from the start that the large number of refugees is living in Jordan and I think this puts more pressure on our
health system in general, and on our vaccination program.
As everyone knows now, there is a shortage in vaccines, but I think that in the last, for the last few weeks probably will secure more, more large
amount of vaccination. So I think that the international communities are supporting Jordan in many directions regarding the refugees.
But still, we are in need to have more, more help in supplying Jordan with vaccines at least from companies like Pfizer, because already we have
agreement with them to have 5 percent to cover 5 percent and we asked for the increase to 10 percent.
We hope with other companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson again when they have their vaccine available to have certain amount of vaccines
produced by these companies as well.
ANDERSON: Right. That is the Health Minister of Jordan with an appeal to international vaccine producers. Do not forget Jordan. It is including its
refugees and asylum seekers in its vaccination program, and as I say, should be applauded for doing so, and any help I am sure would be gladly
accepted.
You have been watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson and thank you for watching wherever you are in the world. Do stay safe and stay well.
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