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United Nations: Hunger, Starvation & Malnutrition To Rise In 2021; UK: Rapid Increase In Vaccinations By End Of March; Global Pandemic Declared By W.H.O. One Year Ago; STC President: Houthis Want To Control Oil And Gas Sources And Expand Through Marib; Prince William Speaks Out On Harry & Meghan Interview; Questions Of Race And Buckingham Palace. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 11, 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)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: It is 4 in the afternoon in London. It is 7 pm in Sanaa in Yemen and it's 8 in the evening here in Abu Dhabi. This is our
Middle East Programming Hub. Hello and welcome back to "Connect the World".
Yemen wasn't always a battlefield there is nothing inevitable about the situation there. There is no destiny in suffering nothing unavoidable about
the misery nothing unfixable about its future. Yes, there are many sides in the fight. Yes, each feels right. Yes, we bring you everybody's view.
No, it's not right, that there's one thing we drive through with each and every one of them. It's the people on the grounds that matter. In the end,
nothing else does. But it is hard to convince the world of that the Civil War there just one conflict zone where there where's one of the cruelest,
but most effective weapons is hunger.
This is U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield delivering the findings from the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview. It points to places
like Yemen, Ethiopia's Tigray region and Syria where people fleeing don't have nearly enough to eat.
The report also details the endless cycle of hunger fighters force people to flee, cut off aid and destroy support systems, which just fuels more
violence. It is as common as it is horrific. And that conversation that narrative is going on at the UN as we speak this hour.
Well, 400,000 children are at risk of dying right now in Yemen as its six year civil war rages on. That's according to the United Nations World Food
Programme. Well, now a heartbreaking CNN investigation shows just how dire the situation is.
The Biden Administration says it wants to bring an end to the war there partially funded as it is with American tax dollars but no longer backing
the Saudi led coalition fighting Iranian-backed Houthis.
U.S. backing of the war started under President Obama and it escalated under Donald Trump. Well CNN's investigation found that it's been more than
two months since U.S.-backed Saudi blockade has allowed tankers packed with fuel for food and supplies for starving Yemenis to dock at the crucial port
of her data which is controlled by the Houthis.
14 tankers scheduled to dock they're also currently being held off the Saudi coast. That's according to a vessel tracking app. This goes against
United Nations agreement and is making the situation on the ground desperate for innocent parents and children.
CNN's Nima Elbagir and her team take us directly into Houthi territory in Northern Yemen now, to show you what is at stake and we want to warn you
some of these images will be tough to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The derelict coastline of the north of Yemen, rusting hulks tell a story of war
blockade and devastation. For years now the Houthi controlled north has been increasingly isolated from the outside world.
We secretly traveled through the night by boat after our previous reporting hail at the government to deny us entry. On the road to Hudaydah Port, we
get a sense of the humanitarian disaster kept from the outside world.
Along the roadside hundreds of stalled food supply trucks with no fuel to move in a country in the grip of hunger, their cargo stands spoiling in the
hot sun. The Port of Hudaydah is the supply gateway for the rest of the country. It should be bustling with activity, but today, it is eerily
empty.
A result of the U.S.-backed Saudi blockade the last tank at the dock here was in December. In the echoing silence, it dawns on us, we are about to
witness the terrible impact of this blockade. Desperate patients and family members trying to get the attention of Dr. Khalid (ph) Chairman of
Hudaydah's hospital if he signs these papers, they get some financial relief for their treatments and medicines.
He doesn't get far before he is stopped again and again. Since the Yemen war started six years ago, families have been in financial freefall, the
fuel blockade has sped that descent into oblivion. This is the main hospital for Hudaydah Province and we're surrounded by doctors and nurses
rushed off their.
[11:05:00]
ELBAGIR: Is this a normal day? Is this busy all the time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not the busiest day.
ELBAGIR: Is this not a busy day?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a normal day.
ELBAGIR: Wow!
ELBAGIR (voice over): Dr. Khalid wants to show us some of his critical patients in the therapeutic feeding center. A 10 year old girl whose growth
has been so stunted by starvation she can no longer --
Dr. Khalid says every hour of every day they are receiving more and more cases of severe malnutrition that are this advanced because the parents
can't afford to feed their children. They also can't afford to bring them to the hospital to treat them.
The UN says pockets of Yemen are in famine like conditions, but it says Hudaydah is not considered one of them, because it doesn't meet the metrics
to declare famine. But Dr. Khalid thinks the reality on the ground has outpaced the UN's projections.
The Saudi fuel blockade is biting. Malnutrition numbers are spiking. And at the same time, this busy hospital is running out of the vital fuel that
keeps its generators running, which means that babies like Maryam (ph), who doctors say at two months weighs the same as a newborn, would die.
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war, which has pitted Iran-backed -- known as Houthis against the internationally recognized government and a
U.S.-backed Saudi led coalition. We're in Houthi territory, some of whose officials have been designated as terrorists by the U.S. for targeting
neighboring Saudi Arabia.
We've been granted a rare interview with a leading Houthi official. We must meet in an undisclosed location because his aides say of the threat of
assassination. We ask him to respond to allegations they are escalating this war.
MOHAMMED ALI AL-HOUTHI, SENIOR HOUTHI OFFICIAL: Not true at all the battle is continuing, this has not stopped.
ELBAGIR: Do you trust America to take forward negotiations to bring peace here and Yemen?
AL-HOUTHI: Trust must come about decisions. So far, we have not seen any concrete decisions being made.
ELBAGIR: You spoken about being subjected as a nation to international terror. But three of the leaders within the -- movement are designated by
the U.S. as terrorists. One of your key slogans talks about "Death to America". How do you see this as pushing forward the negotiation and the
possibility for peace in the future?
AL-HOUTHI: When we say "Death to America", they effectively kill us with their bombs, rockets and blockades. They provide logistics and intelligence
support and their actual participation in the battle. So who is bigger and greater? The ones who are killing us are the ones who say death to them.
ELBAGIR (voice over): The Biden Administration has announced it has withdrawn support for the Saudi offensive, but it comes after six long
years of war. And for the children dying of hunger, it still hasn't brought peace, any quicker. Peace and help can't come soon enough.
Over half the hospitals in this district are -- shutter. This is one of them. They need urgent support, urgent help. Can you imagine what it would
do to this community if this facility was shut down? Look at the chaos that there is already here and that's why it's functioning.
For years now the UN has been warning that famine is coming to Yemen. Doctors across Yemen's north tell us famine has arrived. Another hospital
witnessing wave after wave of children in the red zone severe malnourishment, impoverished mothers, desperate to keep their children
alive, are forced to make harrowing choices.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just to get to the hospital, I stopped eating and drinking, not even water just to get him treated.
ELBAGIR (voice over): These doctors are keeping track of the numbers spiking beyond what they ever imagined. The doctor was saying that in 2020
this population 23 percent of the children under five here were severely malnourished. In 2021 may think that that number is going to go over 30
percent there is no doubt in his mind. He says that they here and -- are in famine.
Nearly three years ago the UN Security Council condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, demanding access to supplies that are
necessary for food preparation, including water and fuel be kept intact, here and in other conflicts.
That clearly hasn't happened. What's more, the world has stopped caring. The UN needs almost $4 billion to staunch this crisis. They received less
than half that from donors. Numbers don't lie. But numbers also don't reflect the full tragedy.
This is -- 10 months and struggling to breathe. He came into the hospital six days ago. He keeps losing weight, even with the critical care he's
receiving. Hours after we left Hassan Ali died one more child in Yemen that represents so much more pain.
[11:10:00]
ELBAGIR (voice over): The doctors here are desperate for the world to see and to help. Nima Elbagir, CNN Hudaydah, Yemen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, just before we came on air this evening, I spoke with Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the UN and International Organizations
in Vienna. He tells me the Kingdom is looking for a diplomatic solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN KHALED BIN SULTAN AL SAUD, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO UN: But as you know, Becky, Saudi Arabia has always looked for a political solution
in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, committed to the ceasefire the past year. Unfortunately the Houthis have not they have launched dozens of ballistic
missiles and drones in the past month.
This is not the act of any party that was a ceasefire or that wants peace. So we are looking for the political solution. We commend and we work with
the UN Envoy. We hope that it comes to a good result in the near future.
ANDERSON: I guess the question at this point is when does this humanitarian catastrophe outweigh the strategic benefit of a blockade to the Saudi
backed Yemeni government? I understand where the bigger picture is, and we hope and pray that a political solution is possible in the near future. But
I want to just specifically drill down on this blockade of Hudaydah, if you will?
AL SAUD: But I think -- I think the place to look is to look at the Iranian backed Houthi militias. The backing of the Houthi militias by Iran has
prolonged this situation for so long. Until then, I think that Saudi Arabia has always stated that it was a political solution, and that it will join
any efforts to reach a political solution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was just part of a wide ranging discussion with the Saudi Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, including what the
Kingdom thinks about any new Iran nuclear deal. We will bring you more of our conversation tomorrow on "Connect the World".
We will be having a lot more coverage on this near famine, or indeed as some will say, famine in Yemen ahead on "Connect the World". Tomorrow, I
will be talking to the Head of the World Food Program about what his organization is trying to do to avoid aid funding being stolen or diverted
at source. Ahead of that take a listen to what he posted from the ground in the Yemeni Capitol.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID BEASLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: I'm standing here this biometric center here in Sanaa because this is a very important
success story. Because we've been fighting to get biometrics and working with the different people involved so that taxpayers, donors and
beneficiaries have the confidence in the integrity to know that the assistance, the money, the food is going to the people that need it most.
And this is a major success, a major breakthrough. Now we're ready to start scaling up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's David Beasley, and I'll speak with him tomorrow. Before that, though, tonight I will get you my conversation with the Head
of Yemen's Transitional Council, Southern Transitional Council Aidarus Al- Zoubaidi gives me a frank assessment of the challenges facing his fractured country and who could offer help.
And what's behind the UK's intense and focused vaccine rollout we will speak with the government minister, who is making sure all those shots make
their way into all of those arms that is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: UK is promising a rapid increase in COVID vaccinations before the end of March. This after an already very successful start their rollout,
more than 24 million people in the UK, so of a population of around 68 million have already received their first dose.
A whopping 35 percent of the British populations who is eligible but as you know, it takes two doses to build immunity with the vaccines available. In
Britain just over 1.2 million people having already received that second jab.
Well, the disparity between the two big numbers a factor of the UK strategy to delay the second dose allowing access for as many as possible to get
that crucial first one. Well, our next guest is the person behind what has to be said is an impressive rollout.
Nadhim Zahawi is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment. And you are joining us live on the show today. I trust
you and your family are well.
NADHIM ZAHAWI, UK MINISTER FOR COVID VACCINE DEVELOPMENT: We are well thank you very much great to be with you.
ANDERSON: Great. UK is speeding ahead with its vaccine rollout. But you say you are going to put your foot down even harder on the accelerator over the
coming weeks. How sir?
ZAHAWI: So we've secured obviously, the vaccine supplies from both AstraZeneca Oxford and Pfizer BioNTech. And essentially, we've built a
deployment infrastructure based around three great institutions, the NHS, the NHS family, so GPS, primary care networks, hospital hubs, national
vaccination centers, pharmacies and armed forces, which are integrated 101 brigades, are doing an incredible job at work.
And of course, local government, our local authorities helping set up sights and pop ups in mosques and temples and good wars all around the
country. So we are about to essentially double the rate to hit that mid- April target of offering the first dose to everyone over the age of 50. That's 32 million people. That is our target.
And I'm confident because I've got enough lines of sight of my supplies coming through that we can hit our targets.
ANDERSON: Alright. You are delaying the second dose in order to get as many people vaccinated with the first. Are you -- how confident are you will
continue to have enough of a stockpile to ensure that everyone gets access to that second dose eventually?
ZAHAWI: You are actually right. The Joint Committee on Vaccination Immunization and our four chief medical officers for England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland all agreed that the dosing interval between first and second dose can be up to 12 weeks, which is what we are deploying
what we're working on.
So we've already begun Becky reserving second doses. So if you've had your Pfizer BioNTech first dose in January, you'll be due your second dose now
in March. So you're seeing the second dose numbers rise, as well as of course us maintaining the pace to keep offering the first dose.
And of course if you had your Oxford vaccine in January, your do your Oxford vaccine now so as I say, we're reserving seconds as we're offering
first dose.
ANDERSON: Right. On AstraZeneca Denmark has announced it is suspending the use of that vaccine after one person died from a blood clot following
inoculation. Iceland and Norway have now also done the same pending an investigation.
I know that the UK Medicines Regulator has told Brits to still take it or get it saying that it's a precautionary measure by the Danish authorities
then that it hasn't been confirmed this report of a blood clot being caused by the vaccine.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: What do you know about this and what factors went into that decision to not take the same precautionary measures?
ZAHAWI: It is a precautionary measure in those countries. And our regulator actually has -- what we call the yellow card system. So every vaccination
that is delivered 24 million, you're quite rightly mentioned at the outset of this interview. There is a system in the United Kingdom called the
yellow card.
So if there are any adverse incidents that are recorded not by the government or the NHS, but by the regulator, the MHRA and that is
published. And the regulator has looked at this and up till now, I think we've administered over 11 million AstraZeneca doses.
And they absolutely think that any adverse including a blood clot, is actually within the parameters of safety of AstraZeneca. And they monitor
the situation very, very carefully, very closely. And they've been very clear that people who have an appointment should continue to take their --
appointment and have that safety or have a first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
ANDERSON: Understood. The UK's roll out has gotten a lot of praise and that we have been the first to applaud it. It's great when we're actually being
able to report good news. However, there are, of course, errands of concern, according to a YouGov poll recently 1 in 10 -- standing for black
Asian and minority ethnic Britain say they won't take the vaccine won't get the vaccine.
When asked why they said they don't know enough about the vaccine. They don't trust the science. Well, they think it's unsafe. What are you doing
to combat these concerns?
ZAHAWI: So, vaccine positivity in the UK amongst adults has continued to rise. When I took on this role back in mid November, it was sort of high
70s in terms of adult saying they will likely or very likely take the vaccine. It's now at 94 percent of adults.
And I think that's because of the success of the deployment, but also of the transparency of the regulator and the Joint Committee on Vaccination
Immunization, our clinicians, the chief medical officer is Deputy Jonathan Van Tam and others in essentially engaging in the communications campaign.
We also published -- I published the uptake strategy on the 13th of February, which essentially has four pillars. One is partnership with local
government, very close partnership and data sharing within that, so that working with local government, we understand where the particular
communities are?
Where we think we need to offer more support for them, engagement, and of course, engagement in languages. We're translating everything into 13
different languages, from Arabic, to Farsi, to Kurdish to Turkish to Polis to serve all those communities. But the most important evidence is around
access if you make it accessible at a time and a place that is convenient and trusted by those communities.
They will turn up and I've seen it firsthand, with the Prince of Wales this week at Jesus House in Brent amongst the black Christian faith, and of
course, in mosques. The Prime Minister visited -- center and saw what happens when you actually have a site that is trusted by that community.
Likewise, I was in Hackney and worked with the -- first responders for the -- Hasidic Jewish community and we vaccinated in one evening on a Saturday
night at 8:30 pm about 364 people from the community. It's that sort of access, and that ability to work with communities with local champions.
We're putting a lot of resource about 23 million pounds identifying local champions, as what mending the GP contracts that allow them to be able to
have these pop up sites. It's been incredibly effective.
ANDERSON: Let me -- and thank you. Let me just ask you this last question and do be brief on your answer, if you will, because we're slightly running
out of time. It's been exactly a year since the W.H.O. declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Right from the beginning the W.H.O. has warned, no country is safe until all countries are safe. At what stage of the UK's vaccine rollout will it
begin focusing on ensuring other countries have access? And once you do, which countries is a priority when it comes to the UK assisting rollouts
beyond its own borders?
[11:25:00]
ZAHAWI: So very briefly. We began right at the outset last year when the Prime Minister set up the vaccine task force. He gave them two priorities
one to find the vaccines for the UK and they did with seven great vaccines that have been ordered now an eighth with CureVac as well.
Two, how do we help the rest of the world because no one is safe until we're all safe. So we've put 548 million pounds through Covax and at the G7
summit where we're taking a real leadership position, including on communicating to the world about the safety of vaccines.
We raised another I think about 4 billion to Covax. That's already began I think the Ivory Coast has begun vaccinating to the Philippines has received
the Oxford vaccine, as well as Akron, Ghana and 92 other countries will receive it this year.
We've also committed that any excess doses that we have will be shared the bulk of those through Covax as well.
ANDERSON: With that, we will leave it there sir, thank you for joining us.
ZAHAWI: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Well, no one is safe until we are all safe. Do think on that. As I bring you this next report, Brazil hitting a new daily high in
Coronavirus deaths for the second day in a row. Hospitals across the country filling up and experts say because of the government's inaction.
The crisis in Brazil could grow so big it will have global consequences CNN's Isa Soares with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Shaken and still visibly weak Moises Barboza a Counselor for the City of Porto Alegre in Southern Brazil
tells me he's never smoked, or been seriously ill. Still the 42 year old ended up spending 10 days inside an intensive care unit after contracting
COVID-19. He survived but the trauma is deep.
Weeks later, Barboza's voice remains course. And as we speak, it's clear he's still breathless. But even if those lingering effects fade, others are
forever etched on his mind. Barboza's case is one among thousands as ICUs across Brazil reached peak capacity and daily deaths hit new records.
Warning signs seemingly not severe enough to change the Brazilian President's view of the pandemic. Under Jair Bolsonaro Brazil has struggled
to implement a unified countrywide strategy to deal with COVID-19. Not least because the president has continuously downplayed the virus at every
turn, first insisting it was just a sniffles and now questioning vaccines as they become available?
Jeopardizing vaccination program that continues to progress at a very slow pace. Just a couple of months ago, he was accused of failing to act as the
healthcare system in the Amazonas State Capital of Manaus collapsed. He blamed local health officials.
An investigation is underway. In Manaus patient after patient literally gasp for air when hospitals run out of oxygen. Now tells me Professor
Nicolelis it's much, much worse.
DR. MIGUEL NICOLELIS, PROFESSOR, DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: People outside Brazil focus on in Manaus. Manaus has been a huge tragedy. Well, I
have news for you we have 20 Manaus right now, in Brazil. 20 capitals in Brazil have reached capacity in ICU beds.
SOARES (voice over): Nicolelis who is a Doctor and a Neuroscientist at Duke University in the U.S., and he has been tracking the crisis in Brazil tells
me it's a matter of when not if the Brazilian healthcare system collapses.
DR. NICOLELIS: This is a perfect storm.
SOARES (voice over): Speaking from Sao Paolo, he tells me Brazil, he says it's an open air laboratory for the virus to evolve, creating more deadly
mutations. A challenge he says not just Brazil, but for the world.
DR. NICOLELIS: If you allow this thing to run amok in Brazil this pandemic, you are certain to get new variants is about to spread first in the
continent here, Latin American South American, likely to the U.S. and Europe a little later in Asia too.
[11:30:00]
SOARES (voice over): So now he says the world needs to challenge the Brazilian government or for its failure to contain the virus. Back in Porto
Alegre Barboza says for that to happen the political saber rattling must come to an end. Isa Soares, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is just harrowing. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We've been connecting you today to the spiraling crisis in Yemen widespread hunger and growing famine in a country devastated by six years
of war. Well, a Saudi backed internationally recognized government has been fighting Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2014.
Now, out of the conflict sprang the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates that has in the past
sought an independent Southern Yemen. Well, in December the STC agreed to the formation of a unity government.
I recently sat down with Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi President and Commander of the Southern Transitional Council and I started by asking him for a status
update on the battle for the oil rich City of Marib which his Deputy Foreign Minister says has fallen mostly under Houthi control. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIDARUS AL-ZOUBAIDI, PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL: The question on Marib and the conflict there is an important one. The Houthis have not
supported the international community by stopping the war, nor did they respond to a total ceasefire called by the UN Envoy a year ago.
The Houthi strategy is a strategy of permanent war and guerrilla warfare. And it continues in this approach indefinitely. And the Houthis are trying
to control the sources of gas and oil to change the salaries of the soldiers and expand all over Yemen.
We are calling on the international community and the United States directly to stop the war because the situation in Yemen is very dire. The
Houthis want to expand not only through Marib, but also aim to reach the Arabian Sea through -- this of course represents Iran and is led by Iranian
policy.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: The new U.S. President Biden recently announced that he would withdraw support, direct support for the Saudis fighting in this conflict
in Yemen. He also reversed the decision by the Trump Administration, which designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. Do you believe that the
Houthis are feeling emboldened by the U.S. decision?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: This was major political support for the Houthis in my opinion. We view it from the point of view of attempting to solve
humanitarian issues in Yemen. The U.S. believes that directly interfering would be valuable in Yemen, because we have a crisis. But this in fact,
caused the Houthis to increase the operation in the country.
ANDERSON: Let's talk about the crisis in Yemen. Yemenis suffering from a currency crisis from a medical crisis COVID severe food shortages, how does
the STC, how does your Southern movement plan to solve these issues if you maintain power going forward?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: This is a very important question. At the beginning of the crisis and of course, with the pandemic in 2019 we have imposed a number of
precautionary measures. Of course, talking about sanitary measures, and masks and sanitizers and social distancing but the infrastructure in the
south is not really helpful.
We don't have oxygen and the needed equipment. We only have less than 100 beds, which leads to many problems. We had very severe cases and a lot of
deaths because of COVID because we didn't have the oxygen needed and the medical infrastructure.
This is something we still suffer from. And we have asked the international community to interfere but we received no response at all. We have a very
difficult situation on the ground. We asked for the help of the international community.
ANDERSON: Is the STC preparing for a future in Yemen where the Houthis are in power?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: We will negotiate with those who control the land in the north be it Houthis or not Houthis. This is inevitable. We maintain, however,
that we will not put our hand in the hands of a terrorist organization and that negotiations will only take place under the umbrella of international
and human organization.
ANDERSON: Many of our viewers will have heard talk of the Riyadh agreement signed of course in 2019 by yourselves and others. It was a decision to
abandon self rule in the south in order to implement a peace deal between the government of President Hadi and yourselves.
And at the time, Martin Griffiths, the UN Envoy to Yemen tweeted congratulations to all and said the Riyadh agreement is an important step
for our collective efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the conflict in Yemen.
Considering you are now talking about a referendum on Southern independence and political discussions with the Houthis, is the Riyadh agreement to your
mind, dead in the water?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: Let's not use the term dead in the water. But let's say that we need to have a good representation in the south. It was an important
step at the time that we responded to this Riyadh agreement. Because of the many humanitarian reasons we needed to have representation in the Riyadh
agreement. We needed to be part of the negotiations for the will of the southern population.
ANDERSON: The signing of that agreement, the Riyadh agreement was witnessed by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman and the Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi here where we are in the UAE Mohammed bin Zayed.
After five years of involvement in what is this bloody civil war in Yemen, the UAE withdrew its troops from the country of course in 2020. It is and
remains a major backer of the STC. I wonder can you describe the extent of the UAE's involvement with you.
AL-ZOUBAIDI: Of course this is essential. Our ties to the UAE, our relation to the UAE are a partnership. It's a strong partnership in the field
through combating terrorism.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: On the point of dash or ISIS or other extremists? What is the situation in Yemen with regard extremist terrorism at present?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: Honestly, this is an important question. We used to have the UAE support to counterterrorism and we were stronger than. Now these groups
are really a true threat and a true risk to us in --, Marib and in other districts.
Of course, there's the brotherhood, the Muslim brotherhood, they're supporting these groups. We hope that we will not be left alone in this
battle, because of where we are, because of our position and our alliance with the UAE. We are suffering from these extremist groups. We will fight
terrorism and all our forces. ANDERSON: How much support does the UAE give you on the ground?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: The support of UAE is little compared to the money sent to other opposing groups. It is limited. But when we had forces on the ground,
things were really better. When it came to countering terrorism they control this piece and the movement of the extremist groups was very
limited. But now after they withdrew this, these groups have more freedom.
ANDERSON: When I talk to people in Yemen, they say a Yemeni solution for Yemeni people. The international community has once again raised Yemen as a
priority and says it wants to see a solution. The U.S. has reengaged the Europeans have reengaged. They support the efforts of the UN Envoy Martin
Griffiths. Do you see some optimism for a solution sir? Is that a naive position from the international community?
AL-ZOUBAIDI: Europeans and international community don't have it right. I believe that, because we coexist with the coexistence with the Houthis is
something that we cannot accept. It's not possible for having different sex record system with the Houthis is not possible for us.
There is no point in having this cultural coexistence. There are no tribe rights, no women's rights for them, and the society. They're ruled by
tribes and political Islam. So it's difficult for us to coexist with them. We might have a transitional period but after that we want self
determination and self governance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi President and Commander of the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen speaking to me recently. Well, the STC has
been detaining a Yemeni journalist for nearly six months now according to the human rights groups.
News of Adel al-Hasani detention emerged last month. Adel al-Hasani who has worked with several prominent media outlets including CNN was detained at a
checkpoint on the outskirts of Aden last September. The 35 year old is being held at Al-Mansoura prison by the Southern Transitional Council.
Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have accused the STC of arbitrarily detaining Hasani. They say he was beaten by his
interrogators and subject to solitary confinement and sleep deprivation. Well, the STC provided us with the following statement.
In Adel al-Hassan's case, the STC is fully committed to international human rights law and we believe that due process must be guaranteed. We play our
role where we are responsible and we stand against any violations, torture or abuse in detention. Our committees on the ground likewise cooperate with
the judiciary to support their efforts as needed.
The case of Mr. Al-Hassan is with other cases is being handled by the Attorney General and Ministry of Interior Administered by the Yemeni
Government per the new cabinet agreement the Yemeni government controls the Ministry of Interior but we are ready to play our part where required to
support its efforts. You're watching "Connect the World". We will be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, to the latest in our series, "Call to Earth" where today's story looks at desertification. 40 percent of flans on our planet are at
risk of desertification. And it's only getting worse. According to the United Nations by 2030, at least 50 million people will have to leave their
homes if trends are not reversed. That's why Rolex Awards Laureate, Sarah Toumi is drawing a line in the sand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): The Sahara Desert, remote, romantic, it's also a threat.
SARAH TOUMI, FOUNDER, "ACACIAS FOR ALL": What I love about the desert is it's very peaceful, but in the same time, it's very scary because when
desert enters the houses of people pushing them to leave because they have no more livelihoods in their communities is scaring me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Desertification is a process which transforms once arable land into a barren environment. It's something that
Sarah Toumi witnessed firsthand.
TOUMI: By grandparents are growing olives and enter the olive trees. They are growing beautiful gardens with the decibels and other crops. Now, let's
say 25 years after they don't grow anymore in their food, they have to buy food from the shops. And I think it's very sad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Desertification can be reversed. Toumi's project "Acacias for All" has cultivated almost 700,000 deep rooted trees
in the region, improving soil structure, and allowing for other trees and crops to be planted nearby.
TOUMI: It's very easy to plant a tree. It's not easy to grow a tree and that's what I learned in Tunisia, from just planting acacia trees into
growing agro ecological ecosystems with communities, creating value chain that sustain the ecosystem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Toumi's impact in Tunisia led her to want to do more. She has been invited to join a program of epic proportions.
MONIQUE BARBUT, FORMER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: Great Green Wall is about giving life back to the
desert to the soil.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): The Great Green Wall is a patchwork of restored lands across the entire continent expected to stretch 8000
kilometers by 2030, covering 100 million hectares of land across 11 countries. The aim is to create a natural shield against desertification.
BARBUT: Up to now the Great Green Wall initiative had filled up about 18 percent of the objective. So yes, you have another 80 percent to go. I am
optimistic it's a question of making sure that that part of Africa gets the attention it deserves.
[11:50:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): The Great Green Wall has the goal of creating up to 10 million new jobs, securing people's income as part of the
strategy.
TOUMI: They need to eat. They need to improve their livelihoods. And then they will think about their ecosystem.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): In January 2021, the initiative received a boost of $14 million in funding. Toumi is advising how that money is best
allocated on the ground.
BARBUT: Sarah Toumi has a tremendous experience in Tunisia working with grassroots organizations. She perfectly understands what the needs are, but
also, which are needed to make the project come to reality.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): For Toumi desertification is a threat that affects us all, and the work is urgent.
TOUMI: If we don't do it now, we will never have the opportunity to do it again. After we are all on the same planet we are all concerned by the same
problem because when during the summer in Paris, we have temperatures like 40 degrees, or we have sand -- that is covering the ice. We've seen
concretely directly the impact that desertification can have all of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We will continue showcasing inspirational stories like this as part of the initiative at CNN. Let us know what you are doing to answer the
call. You can use the #calltoearth that is #calltoearth. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the future add to the -- let me start that again a future heir to the British throne breaking his silence on the interview that is
spin -- that is reverberating around the world where Harry and Meghan dramatically level allegations of racism within the Royal Family have
listened to Prince William.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you both -- have you spoken to your brother since the interview?
PRINCE WILLIAM: No I haven't spoken to him yet, but I will do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And can you just let me know is that the Royal Family a racist family sir?
WILLIAM: No, we're very much not a racist family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's connect you to London now and CNN's Salma Abdulaziz is outside of Buckingham Palace. And what's Prince William -- I mean, you
know, a very, very short response. So what's called the doorsteps in our world by journalists in your sense?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Becky, I think there's the feeling that this conversation has really been over simplified. It's turned into a game of
who is the racist? Who is the person who made that one specific comment about Archie's skin tone?
And of course, that is an important accusation that needs to be tackled by the Palace, but this is a much larger conversation. This was a two hour
program where both Meghan Markel and Prince Harry were discussing systemic issues, institutional issues, not just within the Royal Family but in
another elite institution here in Britain, the press. So I wanted to find out more about how people were reacting to the reaction. Take a listen.
[11:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): It was the moment that gave hope to black Britain.
KAREN GIBSON, CONDUCTOR, THE KINGDOM CHOIR: And it felt like everything had changed. What was a two hour service?
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Karen Gibson was one of the stars of the royal wedding. Her choirs moving performance showed Britain's diversity. That day
her heart was full of joy for the couple. But after watching their interview with Oprah, she shares their pain.
GIBSON: I think my reaction was still that we used to in 2021.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Meghan accused some in the British press of racism in their coverage of her. Karen and others believe this is true.
PIERS MORGAN, TV HOST: Which is exactly the thing he was choose me of doing. You got something say about the interview.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, whose heated exchange with TV Host Piers Morgan went viral. After he questioned Meghan's truthfulness
says the lack of diversity in the media has created mistrust.
MOS-SHOGBAMIMU: I cannot waste my energy on those who are still on the ABCs, 123 stories of racism. If the media is going to change your words,
change the tone of your words, how are you going to trust them with your most valuable asset, which is your voice?
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Away from the overwhelmingly white institution, the British press, Zeze Millz carved out her own space.
ZEZE MILLZ, ZEZE MILLZ SHOW: So welcome back to the Zeze Millz show.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Her weekly Instagram show speaks to an audience of nearly 120,000 on cultural and political issues.
MILLZ: Our voices are going to be heard now and if it's uncomfortable for you, then tough luck.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Meghan's comments on her Palace experience resonate on Britain's streets.
MILLZ: They always kind of get like you and come up with another reason as to why it might not be racing, or maybe they just don't like her. Or maybe
it has nothing to do with that.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): But exposing systemic inequality is only step one.
MILLZ: The racism is too deep. You know, it's too deep for one person to come in and almost change all of that. But I think that this interview has
-- will spark a lot of change.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the issues raised particularly that of race are concerning. But for the UK's
black community, Marco's account is yet more confirmation that institutional racism still exists. Now the country needs to find a way for
it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Salma Abdelaziz reporting, very good and a very quick good night from us, good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
