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Female Photographer Evacuates Kabul, Flies to Qatar; COVID Response Team Will Speak on Boosters Tomorrow; Afghan Women Fear the Future, Loss of Rights Under Taliban Rule; Historic Water Shortage in Colorado River as Drought Persists. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired August 17, 2021 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

KIANA HAYERI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REPORTER: I just didn't expect the timeline to be like this. And I expected it to be more violent, more bloody, but thankfully that was not the case. It was quiet. They marched in and other people surrendered.

And but I thought it was going to happen much later.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: And do you -- what do you think when you hear the Taliban say, we're going to do it differently this time. Woman aren't going to be discriminated against. We're going to have a more in inclusive government.

HAYERI: I don't know what to say to that. I don't believe that to be honest. I don't believe that. I mean they may have changed a little bit., but anyhow, they're not going to do it much different.

The reality is these people, as much as young people have been exposed to television, to mobile phones, they've been connected, they now understand what's press relationship, they understand how to run their propagandas, that definitely has changed. But in terms of like core values, I don't think they have changed.

CAMEROTA: Kiana Hayeri, thank you very much for talking to us and giving us an insight into the limbo that people are in even after they leave Kabul. We really appreciate you sharing your personal thoughts with us. And we want to let our viewers know that you can see Kiana's the latest works on Afghanistan. They're publish this week in "National Geographic Magazine." Thank you very much.

HAYERI: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Coming up, new development on a coronavirus booster shot. We'll explain why millions of people could get another shot sooner than expected. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLACKWELL: Sources tell CNN the Biden White House is working on a plan to get COVID booster shots in the arms of millions more Americans. Now the added dose would be for those who have been fully vaccinated for at least eight months.

CAMEROTA: The White House press secretary just announced that the COVID Response Team will address boosters tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Part of our operational focus was ensuring we had enough supply to provide booster shots should that be a decision made by the FDA. So that has been in our planning processes for months now and certainly we've planned for this contingency.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with more details. So, Elizabeth, is this a done deal or are

we still waiting to hear from the FDA if we need this booster shot.

[15:35:00]

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We're still waiting to hear. There's some T's that need crossed and I's that need to be dotted. But it seems pretty clear that this is going to happen. Other countries have already moved in that direction. Actually, we've already moved in that direction giving third shots to folks who were immunocompromised. So, this seems like it's really going to happen but there are some formalities.

And let's take look at the groups that we think that they're going to start with. So, we've already started with immunocompromised folks, that's already happened. And then the thought is that it will move onto to health care to nursing home residents and staff and to older population.

So, a couple things you'll notice about those groups. One, they are vulnerable. Either because they are vulnerable to infection or if they get infected, they're vulnerable to getting very sick. And also, those are the folks who got it the longest time ago. If you sort of you know look back, those are the folks who got it first. Sort of in the December, January-ish time frame.

BLACKWELL: Yes, so how does the administration navigate this conversation? You know the vaccines work well but on the other hand we need a booster.

COHEN: You have hit the nail on the head. That is a tough one.

At the same time, they are trying to tell a bit less than a third of the country the vaccine is great. You haven't gotten a shot yet. We want you to get one.

They are also telling the other two-thirds, oh, you already got them but you might need a third one. That's a tough needle to thread.

But they are going to have to do that. And the message is going to be, it works fabulously. This is an amazing vaccine but it does seem to wane over time and it also is giving the Delta variant is giving the vaccine a run for its money. And so, we want to give you a third shot to sort of increase the chances that it's going to work against the Delta variant. So, the message is, it's great, but we're going to make it even better.

And you know I think as Americans we all just need to take a second and be grateful because there are so many people around the world who can't even get a first or a second shot and we're being offered a third. I mean that's amazing.

And in fact, The World Health Organization, some of those folks aren't too happy about this. They are saying vaccinate the rest of the world first with one or two before you start giving a third. We're getting a chance to get a third. That's some talk about privilege.

CAMEROTA: Oh, I mean let's be honest, if we were told there was a shortage, people would be clamoring for it. If we were told you can't get one, people would be demanding them.

COHEN: That is so true.

CAMEROTA: And so it's just this crazy you know sort of reverse psychology of us having an abundance.

COHEN: Right. maybe that should have been the tactic., right. Maybe they should have said that.

CAMEROTA: Elizabeth Cohen, thank you very much.

OK, so under new Taliban rules, 20 years of progress for Afghan women and girls could vanish. And now of course they are fearing for their future.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:40:00]

CAMEROTA: What does the future look like for women and girls in Afghanistan? Afghanistan's first female mayor tells British media she is worried that the Taliban is going to come and kill her. And she's not alone. Our Clarissa Ward spoke to one woman who worked with the U.S. government and has been unable to get any help for her family.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I'm not angry but as a person that will work with them, now I need your support. It is not fair.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You look very emotional as well.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yes, because I'm thinking about my future and my daughters. What will happen to them if they kill me? Two daughters without mother.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Joining me now to discuss this is Judge Najla Ayoubi, director of Global Programs at Every Woman Treaty, a campaign to end violence for women and girls around the world. And Melanne Verveer, the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security who previously served as the first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women's Issues under President Obama. It's wonderful to have both of you here.

Judge, I want to start with you. Your story is so fascinating, you were the first female judge in your province. What do you think the future is today for women and girls in Afghanistan?

JUDGE NAJLA AYOUBI DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS AT EVERY WOMAN TREATY: Thank you so much. Yes, I was the first female judge in my province in Afghanistan.

I myself fled after I've been speaking out constantly on women's rights and working on women's rights. I'm in contact with many of my colleagues, human rights defenders back home who were on the ground in Afghanistan. And many of whom are hiding fearing for their lives. But what we have also -- and there's no way to get out.

But at the same time, you are hearing lots of stories that how it looks like future. First of all, one of the examples that many of these extremists from around the Middle East issue and also some other parts of the war zone, rushing to Afghans because they have been told that they will be giving Afghan woman as a property. So, this is how I describe Afghan woman future.

Also, Afghan young girls have been dragged and shut in the coffin and smuggled to the neighboring countries. Now you can imagine how they will be used probably as sex slaves. Also, families, where the students have come, their families have been forced to marry their young teenage girls to the fighters of the Taliban. Now these are the chilling stories that really coming out of the country.

And plus, woman's rights activists also are targeted. Because we, the international community, the global international community have been telling us that you are safe. You go and work on the woman's issues but now, woman's rights activists on the top of the target list of Taliban --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

AYOUBI: -- but at the bottom of the responding, helping them to get out of the country.

CAMEROTA: Everything has changed --

AYOUBI: -- that's how --

CAMEROTA: -- overnight. And I want to bring in the Ambassador. Ambassador, do you hear these stories? Women as sex slaves, girls being secreted out of the country in coffins. That's what the future looks like?

MELANNE VERVEER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY: Yes, that' what I'm afraid the future looks like. And certainly, that's what women 20 plus years ago experienced. We're seeing a resurgence of these kinds of horrific practices. And today we heard of the Taliban leaders say that women would have it just fine under Taliban rule. As long as the Islamic code that they practice is one that will be the norm.

Let's understand when they say that they are talking about a very radical form of Islam. That practice anywhere in the predominantly Muslim world.

[15:45:02]

And it is the kind of code that allows for the kinds of things we have been hearing from the judge. So, women are tremendously fearful with good reason. And I would just urge that what we've heard today about the security at the airport, et cetera, that these women who are most vulnerable, who have most to lose because they sided with the United States. They implemented our programs. They worked with us, adopted the kinds of practices, et cetera that we were working towards achieving with them. They are tremendously vulnerable and we have to help get them evacuated. Ensure that the airport can be securitized and that the entry to the airport, which is making it impossible right now for anybody to get out.

CAMEROTA: Why? Ambassador, just help us understand that. Because we just heard from the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan who said they just need to make it to the airport and then we will be ferrying them out.

I mean he was making it sound as though, yes, there are some logistical problems but we're going to do that. But where do you see the biggest obstacle?

VERVEER: Well, I wish I could agree with Jake. But the reality is and what we're hearing from the people we are in touch with all day long on the ground in Afghanistan is that making it from the place where they are in safety when they get to the airport entry into the airport is controlled by the Taliban.

So, it is making it impossible. Assuming their plane is waiting and the airport is secure, it's impossible for them to enter the airport. So, we need to ensure security both for entrance as well as within the airport.

CAMEROTA: Well, Judge Ayoubi, and Ambassador Verveer, we have -- but you have raised so many issues for us to dive into. We will have you back to talk more about this and what the answer is. We really appreciate both of you. Thank you for being here.

AYOUBI: Thank you.

VERVEER: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: The climate crisis is reaching critical levels across the country as the largest reservoir in America drops to historic lows.

CAMEROTA: And on a much lighter note, make sure you join CNN for the "We Love New York City -- The Homecoming Concert." This features Bruce Springsteen, Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson just to name a few. The lineup is incredible. It's a once in lifetime concert event. It's Saturday starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern only on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:50:00]

BLACKWELL: For the first time ever, the federal government has declared a water shortage on the Colorado River. And that's triggered mandatory water consumption cuts for states across the Southwest. The drought is also causing water levels to drop to unprecedented lows in Lake Mead, Nevada, as CNN's Stephanie Elam is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Dissipating Lake Mead. The largest reservoir in the country is sinking to unprecedented levels. The downward trajectory etched in stark rings along its banks. Marking just how far the waterline has fallen over the years. Exacerbated by punishing heat waves and accelerated by the relentless drought gripping nearly all of the West. It is the largest swath of land starving for precipitation since the U.S. drought monitor began keeping records.

CAMILLE CALIMLIM TOUTON, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION: 2000 would be the start of what is now a 22-year drought. In just five years of that drought Lakes Mead and Powell lost 50 percent of their capacity.

ELAM (voice over): This is a satellite image of Lake Mead in November 2000. Compare that to the much smaller footprint this year.

A foreboding reality for the 40 million people in seven states and Mexico that rely on the Colorado River for water. Some 25 million people in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico get their water from Lake Mead. That's more than the population of Florida.

TANYA TRUJILLO, ASST. SECRETARY FOR WATER AND SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR: We are seeing the effects of climate change in the Colorado River Basin through extended drought, extreme temperatures, expansive wildfires.

ELAM (voice over): The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says Lake Mead is now just 35 percent full, a record low as the lake sank to an unprecedented measure. The bureau now expects the lake will remain near these levels come January 1st, triggering significant water supply cuts to some municipalities next year. Arizona will endure the deepest cutbacks in water supply, mainly impacting agriculture.

JACI GOULD, LOWER COLORADO BASIN REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Arizona will see a delivery reduction of about 18 percent. Nevada's reduction will be 7 percent and Mexico's reduction will be about 5 percent.

ELAM (voice over): But without action, further water restrictions impacting millions more could be down the line. JOHN ENTSMINGER, GENERAL MANAGER, SOUTHERN NEVADA WATER AUTHORITY:

Continued cooperation, collaboration, and partnerships are critical to our region's future. We cannot solve these problems in a vacuum.

[15:55:00]

ELAM: And presumably where I'm standing right now, I should be in water. But that just shows you how far the water has fallen here. And this doesn't just mean drinking water. It's also power. The Hoover Dam and the hydropower coming out of that.

But what we do know that is that the states and Mexico are working together to try to find ways to figure out how to have enough water moving forward. But it's clear climate change is real and it is happening here and you can really just see it where I am standing right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Stephanie Elam there at Lake Mead, thank you.

And THE LEAD with Jake Tapper starts after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END