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Connect the World
Amid Brutal Surge, India Sees Daily Cases and Deaths; Biden Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Waiver Proposal; Ukraine's Foreign Minister Speaks Exclusively to CNN; CNN Speaks to Former Health Minister Who Gave First Testimony; Rising Food Prices Make it Hard for Some to Mark Ramadan; UK's Indian Diaspora Pitch in to Help During Crisis. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 06, 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, CONNECT THE WORLD: This hour of as misery grips India the Prime Minister builds nearly $2 billion complex ravaged by more
than a month of relentless Coronavirus, India going from bad to worse.
The country now reporting its highest number of COVID cases and deaths in a single day more than 412,000 new cases were recorded on Thursday 3,980
lives were lost these are mind numbing figures. But so, so personal to the people who love those who died, who have lost family members.
This is a new crematorium being built to keep up with the influx of bodies. And we are still seeing hospitals overwhelmed with the sick and dying and
still critically low on supplies. Health could be on the way as the Health Ministry says it is "Swiftly clearing thousands of oxygen concentrators
through customs" parts of a plant to help India generate more oxygen arriving from Germany.
Meantime experts may be finding a link between the surge and the so called Indian variant and they have an ominous warning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. VIJAYRAGHAVAN, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISER TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: A phase three is inevitable given the high levels of circulating virus, but
it's not clear on what timescale this phase three will occur? Hopefully incrementally, but we should prepare for new waves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Amidst the crisis and all the shortages, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to push forward with $1.8 billion renovation of
parliamentary quarters including a new home for the country's leader.
CNN' Vedika Sud has been following this devastating surge and the incremental storylines around it. She's live from New Delhi. India's worst
day, things could get even worse. And it seems the Prime Minister wants to press ahead with a multibillion dollar construction project which Vedika
for many will frankly seem tone deaf. How are people reacting?
VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Becky, you already know how upset people are here in India given the situation how grim it's been. The numbers aren't
encouraging at all. In fact, today's the day that India's recorded the highest ever numbers since the beginning of the pandemic, it's shattering
global records day after day.
And today also we've seen close to 4000 deaths take place at a time like this when a lot of experts have come out and said that India was not
prepared for the second wave. And the government was quite complacent that they had overcome the COVID-19 situation just after phase one or rather the
first wave of COVID-19 that hit India.
Now we have a new parliament area being made a new home for the Prime Minister and staggering numbers, like you mentioned would be the cost for
this entire project. At a time like this opposition leaders and some former leaders from Narendra Modi's Party are criticizing him.
They're saying that this is the time to build hospitals to make sure that people get what they need? Hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, and we
should not be focusing on the construction that is still happening. What's interesting is that this project comes under essential services.
Usually, essential services include doctors, nurses, media personnel at a time like this when there are partial and complete lockdowns across India.
But there is an exception to the case has been made for this project that is being you know, carried out in New Delhi, and a lot of criticism coming
his way, even from citizens through social media.
And when you talk about the staggering numbers, and you talk about a third wave, which is "Inevitable", we're just about preparing for the second
wave. We've been so late in doing that. The government has been weighed in picking up the fact that there was going to be a second wave.
And now we're being told as a third which is inevitable and we must prepare for it. So while oxygen plants are being constructed at this point in time
global aid is coming in. And there is of course that logistical nightmare of distributing it. India is expected to prepare for another wave that's
going to hit us soon, Becky.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: The Health Ministry confirming a link between the rising caseload Vedika and what's known as Indian variant. What more do we know at this
point?
SUD: In fact, it's the first time that the Health Ministry has come out with a bit of information on this link, Becky, because in the Health
Ministry press briefings journalists have been asking week after week about it. And they've only - always been saying that, you know, we have to get
the genome sequencing done, we'll give you information.
So Wednesday was the first day in fact that there was some kind of link that was established between the variant found in India and search that has
been taking place for one and a half months here, you had a representative of health official come out and say, yes, there could be a link. But we
still have to clinically establish that correlation, which will take some time.
And this is something that even the U.S. CDC has been quite interested in, they've called it a reason for interest for them this Indian variant that
they want to go ahead and know more about. So it's not only India but even abroad, that this variant has been a cause for concern not only the U.S.
but the UK as well Becky.
ANDERSON: Vedika Sud is on the story for us. Vedika thank you. Next door in Nepal, the virus showing no signs of slowing the country reported its
highest daily rise of COVID-19 infections so far, with more than 9000 new cases and 54 deaths in just the last day now among the new cases, five
lawmakers and a group of mountain climbers.
Last month, Nepal's government denied reports that tourists on Mount Everest seen here had been infected but now at a different mountain - 19
climbers have just had to be evacuated because of the virus. COVID-19 seems to be spreading like wildfire across the region. Kristie Lu Stout shows his
COVID's alarming rise in cases in India and Nepal's neighbors and beyond.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The surge is alarming in its latest weekly COVID-19 update the World Health Organization points to a marked
increase in cases across Asia. With India as the epicenter and UNICEF is sounding the alarm.
Its Regional Director for South Asia says this "The deadly new surge in South Asia threatens us all. It has the potential to reverse harder global
gains against the pandemic if not halted as soon as possible".
Nepal is overwhelmed. It has seen a more than 1,200 percent rise in average weekly COVID-19 cases since mid April. And the Red Cross is warning that
the outbreak there could soon mimic the catastrophe in India.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also reporting rising case loads. This week in Lahore thousands of people many not wearing masks took part in a religious
procession fanning fears about the spread of the virus.
Another Indian neighbor Maldives seen right here on the map is also posting record high daily cases. The spike comes almost a month after officials
announced plans to offer vaccinations to tourists on arrival in a bet to draw more visitors.
In Thailand, a new cluster in a Bangkok slum is raising concerns more than 300 cases have been founded this area since the third wave began in April.
Indonesia continues to battle one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Asia with about 1.7 million infections is the pandemic began despite travel bans
18 million people or nearly 7 percent of Indonesia's population are reportedly planning to travel for the upcoming Eid-Al-Fitr holiday.
As the virus burns through the region there are more restrictions in Malaysia. There is a partial lockdown and the Capital Kuala Lumpur from May
7th to the 20th. Malaysia has also banned flights to and from India but Cambodia is ending its lockdown in the Capitol Phnom Penh. Despite sitting
new daily records of COVID-19 cases a blanket lockdown is now ending. Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
ANDERSON: Well, India's crisis is not only created a spider web of cases in the global south but it's also halting already delayed vaccine rollouts. A
solution, sharing vaccine recipes the Biden Administration now throwing what could be game changing support for a proposal to temporarily waive
COVID-19 patent protections.
This is important India and South Africa proposed this plan back in October to the World Trade Organization in the hope of ramping up a more equitable
global vaccine rollout. Pharmaceutical companies, as expected, rejected this plan arguing that complex logistics would limit the waivers impact.
Well, South Africa's Foreign Minister admitted to CNN that proposal faces challenges but said developing countries cannot wait for international
supply chains.
[11:10:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NALEDI PANDOR, SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Now it's very important that I stress that what Indian and South Africa have asked for is a temporary
waiver to address the pandemic, the crisis, the global community is confronted by at the moment. We're asking that the world must make good on
the undertaking, everybody was giving in many for last year that vaccines will be a public good. We can't retreat from that promise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's David McKenzie joining me now from Johannesburg. And it was, as we've just reported, India in South Africa who proposed this
vaccine patent waiver. And I just want you to describe for our viewers the stage of play for vaccines in Africa, where you are and why this decision
could be so significant?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly in the long term to medium term Becky it could be very significant because if the WTO actually
moves on this temporary waiver, you could see manufacturing ramping up because their proposal, it's not just to share the patents but also to
transfer proprietary technology in terms of manufacturing.
Just a short time ago, South Africa's President says they want to add manufacturing here in South Africa, because of this, but that's a while off
and the desperate need for vaccines is right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE (voice over): The awful consequence of a COVID-19 tsunami, it's forcing the Indian government to ban all vaccine exports to Covax, the
Global Vaccine Alliance, so it can give precious doses to its own people immediately impacting at least 90 million Covax doses.
The crisis in India is causing a crisis here, Kenyan and other African nations where lives depend on Covax are running out of vaccines. And Tour
Guide Martin Mutisya was one of the very last Kenyans to get his first AstraZeneca shot.
MARTIN MUTISYA, TOUR GUIDE: Yes, it is a big moment I'm feeling excited. I think I just have to wait and see what happens.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Kenya got around a million doses from Covax produced by India's Serum Institute. Kenya's supply dries up and days.
MUTISYA: Because they're supposed to be two shots. I am concerned. But if it doesn't happen, what is the worst scenario?
UHURU KENYATTA, KENYAN PRESIDENT: I want to assure you that nobody who has taken their first dose is going to miss out on their second dose?
MCKENZIE (on camera): Does this worry you? Because it seems that it could be a scenario that the second doses don't come in time.
RUDI EGGERS, W.H.O. REPRESENTATIVE, KENYA: So very clearly, it worries me I'm very clearly the second doses will not come in time.
MCKENZIE (voice over): A senior humanitarian official familiar with Covax's plan told CNN that the Indian vaccine supply isn't expected to resume until
June, at best or even later. And then millions of AstraZeneca doses promised by the Biden Administration won't be enough or come soon enough.
Neither will Moderna's vaccine, up to a half billion doses will be supplied to low and middle income countries but not until later this year.
MCKENZIE (on camera): Right now there isn't equal access. So what is the impact of that?
DR. WILLIS AKHWALE, CHAIRMAN, KENYAN VACCINE TASK FORCE: The impact of that is that maybe we are going to prolong this pandemic much longer than that
it would have happened if there was equal access.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Researchers at Duke University tracking dose availability. So the vaccine freeze could have catastrophic consequences
with some African countries facing yet another wave of the virus.
ANDREA TAYLOR, DUKE GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE: They did put a lot of eggs in the Serum Institute basket and that was a strategic error given that it -
what has happened in India was entirely predictable. It should not have caught any of us by surprise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, what's done is done at this point, Becky now the difficulty is the next few months. That's what all the people I'm talking to say.
Between now and maybe September October is a very difficult period for getting vaccines to the places that need it.
After that point, it may improve but that window is a very potentially dangerous window for this virus and this pandemic Becky.
ANDERSON: Biden Administration, as we said earlier, said it supports easing these patent rules, which was a difficult decision, it seems by Joe Biden
and because there were a lot of naysayers on this. There are experts so who suggests that handing over the IP rights won't necessarily mean that more
can be rapidly produced worldwide on a large scale.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of them Bill Gates another as well as the Chief Medical Officer of BioNTech. He commented on this as well just have a
listen.
[11:15:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OZLEM TURECI, BIONTECH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Patents are not a limiting factor for the production of, for example, our vaccine. There are a number
of important factors in producing vaccines. For example, our manufacturing process involves more than 50,000 steps, all of which have to be executed
accurately in order to ensure efficacy and safety.
Patent waivers will not address this. We think that it's even more important to ensure legal, administrative and organizational solutions for
vaccine manufacturers. And to do this harmonize--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: --perspective where you are does that argument have merit?
MCKENZIE: Well, it has merit in that it is difficult to ratchet up a manufacturing in the short term, you talked about a rapid upscale, well,
nothing is going to be rapid. But it depends on the timeline, Becky, because countries in this region and other parts of the world face a
pandemic that could last several years.
As other countries rich countries predominantly a get over this pandemic in a few months from now so from the perspective of here, it's worth also
giving it a historic perspective, because South Africa and India and other countries remember the bitter fight that took years and years to get some
kind of waivers on patents for HIV AIDS medication.
And in that case, as well, pharmaceuticals were pushing up against it. And it wasn't the end of the world when those waivers were put in and it saved
many, many lives. Not exactly the same scenario. But I think people here take what pharmaceutical say, with a pinch of salt because of that history.
ANDERSON: Yes, no and I'm glad that you were drew a comparison there because it's the story that I remember. And as I'm watching this one
develop, I'm thinking back to that and thinking let's not make the same mistakes again. David, thank you.
Brazil also gripped by uncontrolled transmission of this deadly virus. I had the inquiry into President Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic. We'll
speak with the man who gave the opening testimony at that inquiry. And--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, when you're talking to your relatives, absolutely, you do feel really helpless. But I think that's where, in any
way possible that we can help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Indian expats in Britain mobilizing to help their friends and loved ones now struggling through India's COVID catastrophe. Up next,
Ukraine's Foreign Minister talks exclusively to CNN about Russia, U.S. relations, and that visit from Rudy Giuliani that has landed him in the
FBI's process.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The U.S. Secretary of State is on his way home after a quick trip to Ukraine. Anthony Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for the country in his
meeting with the President.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: This comes as Ukraine faces ongoing aggression from Russia, including a military buildup at the border. This could be a new era for
U.S./Ukraine relations. In an interview with CNN, Ukraine's top diplomat called the past few years of the Trump Administration, "A difficult time".
CNN's Matthew Chance got that exclusive interview with the Foreign Minister and he joins us now live from Kiev. Before we talk about what you got out
of that interview. And it's important it's an exclusive and it's great to get. What came out of Anthony Blinken's relatively short visit to Ukraine?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the public statements are pretty expected actually. I mean, the on the Ukrainian side,
President Zelensky invited President Biden to come and pay a state visit to the country at some point in the near future.
Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State said the purpose of his visit was to come and to show support for Ukraine sovereignty all that, of course
against the backdrop of Ukraine's ongoing conflict against Russian backed rebels in the east of the country and against the backdrop of the
relatively new threats and developing threats on its eastern flank with Russia building up its military forces both on the land and on the sea.
The Ukrainians want this relationship with the United States to be their most important - it is their most important international relationship that
they want to cultivate. They've got a whole list of things they need from Washington, like support to join the NATO military alliance, like more
weaponry and money to prosecute this war and all those things behind closed doors we discuss.
We mentioned earlier got a chance to sit down just you know, in a few hours actually before Anthony Blinken arrived for that short visit to sit down
with the country's foreign minister to discuss all of those issues, or many of them at least, including some of the most uncomfortable ones, Becky?
ANDERSON: Well, let's--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE (voice over): Well, Head of the Secretary of State's visit, his Ukrainian counterpart is putting his best fist forward. There are
uncomfortable issues in the U.S./Ukrainian relationship. The activities in Ukraine of Rudy Giuliani, Former President Trump's personal lawyer, ahead
of 20 U.S. election issues Ukrainian officials would prefer to ignore.
CHANCE (on camera): Do you believe he may have engaged in criminal behavior?
DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, I'm not a lawyer to make my judgment on the criminal nature of his behavior.
CHANCE (on camera): How would you characterize it?
KULEBA: Well, the absence but he was definitely playing politics. And he put the situation at risk for Ukraine and for Ukraine's relationship with
the United States, and we did our best to avoid that trap, and to maintain that bipartisan security with bipartisan support from the United States.
CHANCE (voice over): But Ukraine is again under withering scrutiny. With the FBI investigating the Former New York City Mayor was alleged actions
regarding Ukraine.
CHANCE (on camera): Can you tell us has the FBI or any other investigating agency in the United States approached Ukraine for assistance with that
investigation into Rudy Giuliani?
KULEBA: Not to the best of my knowledge, I'm not aware of any formal, legal process that has been initiated recently.
CHANCE (voice over): Even if there was Ukraine has for years desperately avoided being drawn into the toxic U.S. political battle. In fact, as the
U.S. Secretary of State pays his first visit here. Ukrainian officials want their own battle to be the focus, especially with a Russian Armada,
assembling of the eastern seaboard - insists that naval grill posing no threat.
CNN has learned Ukraine as a shopping lists of weapons it wants from Washington, including air defense systems, an anti sniper tech crucial say
officials, with so many Ukrainian fruits being gun down on these frontlines. Question is will Secretary Blinken and President Biden he says
he wants to find a stable path with Russia offering Putin a summit later this year risk in flaming Russia/Ukraine tensions.
CHANCE (on camera): In the Obama Administration when Biden was the Vice President, they didn't even provide lethal weaponry to Ukraine for fear of
provoking Russia. What do you think is changed? Has anything changed?
KULEBA: My impression is that Obama Administration is about the past and Biden Administration is about today.
[11:25:00]
KULEBA: And this administration is more committed and more resolved and more resolute in containing Russia.
CHANCE (voice over): How far that U.S resolve extends in Ukraine will soon be put to the test?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well publicly, Becky, the Ukrainians are putting, you know, a brave face on this. They're saying the fact that U.S. Secretary of State came
over at all is a show of the strength of the support that the country has from Washington.
But they're very mindful of well about the fact that President Biden is planning that face to face summit with Putin, President Putin of Russia and
so there's sort of nagging feeling amongst many Ukrainians you speak to that it's Russia, not Ukraine. That's Washington's, you know, real high
priority.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Thank you, Matthew. Well, in addition to resetting relations with Ukraine, the U.S. also wants to reset relations with Iran,
specifically on the Iran Nuclear Deal. However, Secretary Blinken tells the BBC he is unsure about Iran's commitment to a nuclear deal. He adds, the
U.S. has demonstrated its desire to return to the deal, but he doesn't know if Iran is prepared to make the same decision.
Indirect talks in Vienna on the subject have been described as positive. Well, the Qatari Finance Minister is under arrest. The state news agency
says Ali Shareef Al Emadi, is accused of abuse of power. Academy public prosecutor ordered the arrest after reports revealed the Finance Minister
had allegedly misused his office and public funds. He was appointed in 2013. And he's also President of the Executive Board of Qatar Airways.
Well, ahead on the show the inquiry into the Brazilian President's handling of the pandemic heats up. We speak to a Former Brazilian Health Minister
who testified this week that Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly ignored his warnings.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: More damning testimony emerging from the inquiry into the Brazilian President's pandemic response. A Former Health Minister Nelson
Teich testified that Mr. Bolsonaro pressured him to endorse an anti malaria drug as a COVID treatment. That's despite evidence that the drug was
ineffective against COVID-19.
Well, joining me now the man who gave the first testimony on Tuesday, another Former Health Minister, Luiz Mandetta, it's good to have you with
us.
[11:30:00]
You told this inquiry, that the Brazilian President was aware his anti scientific response to COVID-19 risked death on an enormous scale, should
he be impeached?
LUIZ HENRIQUE MANDETTA, FORMER BRAZILIAN HEALTH MINISTER: Yes, that's something that the Senate now will have to explore and arrive to its
conclusions. The fact is that we have an enormous problem on the health system to deal with.
We had poor scientific information by that time. And he started to take in - chose our way to deal with that was relatively common to the American
President Mr. Trump's decision to bring Chloroquine and to say that it was just a little flu. And he didn't change it ever he kept with that two days,
Brazil had some very poor results on it just because of this decision. That's something that the Senate and the Congress will have to deal with.
ANDERSON: I just wanted to personally know how you feel. I mean, he was warned you say that he was putting tens of thousands of lives at risk. So I
put it to you again, personally, do you believe that the president should be impeached?
MANDETTA: Yes, I think that something that should be done is to bring the responsibilities of his decisions, yes. But this is - I hope that he
changes sometime, because we are still going to have to deal with this disease for more time.
So it will be necessary to do it in a way that you don't bring another point for the virus, you make an impeachment issue now and the virus will
be freer to do the damage that is doing so you have to do that with a lot of responsibility.
ANDERSON: The president calls this inquiry, an offseason carnival, what do you make of that? That doesn't sound like somebody who gets it at this
point, does it? It doesn't?
MANDETTA: It doesn't. It definitely brings us to different directions that we should be doing. This morning, he blamed on China that China was making
a chemical weapon of the virus that they were growing their economy and blaming on China.
Till this time, we're having a very hard time on how his dealing with the disease. And the world is now bringing into another level of dealing with
because the world had a lack of leadership on how to deal with the vaccines with all the equipments that we needed? And now it seems that the world is
going in another direction.
And Brazil is still keep in with the old direction about private property of the vaccines. And it's very sad for Brazil, we didn't deserve that.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I want to talk about what's going on at present, because it's so important. It's so important that Brazil gets a grip on this COVID-
19 outbreak, but I do just want you to take us back, because your experience is really important.
You warned the president that 180,000 Brazilians could die by December 2020 if the virus wasn't contained. You were fired in April of that year. What
was it like dealing with the president at that time?
MANDETTA: Well, when I was invited to run the health system, I was invited to do a technical job. And I got the sharpest people that I had. I put the
best university I made up. I went to the United States. I was there in Atlanta. I studied there in Atlanta for some time and they met fellowship,
there I was in CDC with Bob Hatfield, I was in England.
I was bringing that all the technical needs that we needed. When it came to the time of the pandemic he didn't want a technical job, he went to
political dealing with that that would be a disaster. I told him many times personally, then with the other minister, and I even wrote him a letter to
make sure that he could at least receive the right orientation, the right way to deal with it.
But he - I just wrote the letter and I gave it to his hands with the other ministers on March 28th. Two weeks later, he fired and I told him that I
was not going to leave the opposite not only if he would do so. The other one who came after me he stayed only 20 days in office and ask him to go
away.
[11:35:00]
Then he brought up military in there to like to fulfill the orders that he was doing. These guys stood there for 10 months, they decided not to buy
vaccines, they decided to bring people together trying to think that if they got contracted disease you would have like, people would get
vaccinated naturally, as he said.
So it's so many bad examples on how to deal with the problem. The whole public opinion knows it, and he will have to deal with that for the rest of
his life.
ANDERSON: I know back in May of 2020, which is effectively a year ago, you admitted yourself that Brazil didn't realize how fast the virus could
spread? You said in an interview, it seemed much more likely SARS virus of 2002.
Fast forward a year, the caseload in Brazil is second only to the States. I mean, we you know, unfortunately, we are seeing a similar story now in
India. I know you said is up to the Senate as to what happens with this impeachment inquiry.
But are you prepared to say today that criminal proceedings are in order against the President and those around him who ignored the scientific
advice and have got Brazil to where it is today?
MANDETTA: I think that many lives were lost. Many lives were lost by this direction that was done. I think that in the beginning, the World Health
Organization gave direction that it seemed more that we had what we call a heavy virus they didn't do a good job neither.
We had a lack of international leadership. And all those international mechanisms just didn't work by that time. In Brazil, we had - beside that
we had a toxic leadership on that end, we had - we lost lives that we wouldn't have to lose if we just would use the common sense the scientific
directions.
I cannot say how many but if it was one death, if that would be more than an example of how not to take care of this unique life. Now we are about
420,000 people die. It's slowing down. We had 4000 deaths about 20 days ago, 30 days ago now we about 2,200. But is this still a lot?
And people say well, it's lowering now. But it's a lot of people as losing their lives. They didn't buy the vaccines by July that they were offered to
Brazil they decided not to buy it. He decided to say that the vaccine that was being predicted in San Paolo with Brazilian Institute called Butantan
in China.
He would say that, that vaccine would change people's genes, and that people should not take the vaccines. He was doing the anti-vaccine way till
December of last year, he was saying that. He would not take and he wouldn't give the vaccines to the people.
So you have so many. And this is not something that was done behind walls. This was something that was done on a daily basis in the internet. And all
the way that he did was to agglomerate people. He decided to make a campaign against the use of masks.
So you have many issues there that they we'll have to follow to say how many people lost their lives because of that.
ANDERSON: We'll leave it there. And we thank you very much indeed, for joining us. Thank you. I want to clarify something, folks before we move
on. Just before the commercial break, we ran video of the wrong person when telling the story of the Qatari Finance Minister, being under arrest. This
was a technical error and we do apologize for any misunderstanding. Well, still come on "Connect the World"
(BEGIN VIDEO LIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before the economy collapsed, his monthly salary of 400,000 Lira was more than $260 now just over $30 a little more than $1 a
day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: With salaries plummeting and food prices soaring. It's a dismal Ramadan for people, many people in Lebanon. We're going to take a look
closer look at that, just ahead. And more violence in the Middle East, now deadly shootings in the West Bank is having tensions in that region more on
that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: We're going to Lebanon now where the economy was awful before the Coronavirus pandemic and now it is in full meltdown mode. Add to that long
running political crisis shows no sign of being resolved.
The French Foreign Minister has arrived for talks again aimed at breaking the deadlock or food prices sky high in Lebanon that has made for a
difficult Ramadan for many, many people. Of course, Ramadan features a big meal each night this year many people are facing empty refrigerators and
even scavenging through dumpsters. CNN's Ben Wedeman has more for you now from Beirut.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Abdur Rahman (ph) gets in this taxi and cruises the streets of Beirut for
customers. But the quest for his daily bread comes up an empty. It's the holy month of Ramadan when families break the daily first at sunset.
With Corona and rising prices this is the most difficult Ramadan of my life says Abdur Rahman. Every one of his families had Coronavirus Abdur Rahman
twice. His 94-year-old father Badr (ph) is still bedridden from the disease. Making ends meet has never been harder for many people here.
The economy is in freefall food inflation is running it up to 400 percent and the currency the Lira has lost around 80 percent of its value against
the dollar. This Ramadan there are no sweet says Omra (ph) his mother. Tonight's meal is supplemented by food donated by others.
Even her 10-year-old granddaughter Tia (ph) is able to list Lebanon's many woes, Corona, the revolution, the port blast inflation and the dollar she
says. Mona Hallak runs the American University of Beirut's Neighborhood Initiative, focusing on helping the needy in the capitals of Beirut
district, one of the cities wealthiest, even here times are getting tougher.
MONA HALLAK, DIRECTOR, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT'S NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE: People are not helping as much because everybody has his own
problems now, so we don't even there. Go and look out for more because we will find more. We will find many, many more families.
WEDEMAN (voice over): Just a few blocks away Khadija (ph) puts together the makings of a simple salad for the evening meal the Iftihar the rest of the
food leftovers from residents of her building, where her husband Ali works as a concierge. Before the economy collapsed his monthly salary of 400,000
Lira was more than $260.
[11:45:00]
WEDEMAN (voice over): Now just over $30 a little more than $1 a day. Before we could buy oil medicine, yogurt, meat, chicken and milk for my kids and
have something left over now says Khadija we can barely afford anything.
But Ramadan is even more difficult for Ali, a Syrian from Aleppo who fled during his third year in law school. He comes through the - to sell and
food today he found a bag of bread for his wife and two daughters. Every year, Ali says it's more difficult. It's a holy month, but for Lebanon, a
hard one as well, Ben Wedeman, CNN, Beirut.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We just saw Mona Hallak in Ben's report and she joins me now from our Beirut Bureau. The AUB Neighborhoods Initiative was established as I
understand it back in 2007. So the work the outreach work has been going on now for some 15 years.
I just don't want you to describe just how much worse things have gotten over the past couple of years, but particularly since the port explosion
back in August of last year and with the economic situation so dire?
HALLAK: In the past two years, it has been declining rapidly. What is amazing is that we never thought that in - we would have a family that
cannot provide for their children. We never thought that an elderly person - affluent neighborhood of the city will have to find somebody to buy their
medications for their elderly, or to provide for their schools for their children or to provide food for the tables.
So we are really, in Beirut, things have changed so much so many shops have closed. So many people have lost their jobs. So many businesses have
totally gone bankrupt, and you cannot recognize - Beirut anymore, nor can you anywhere else in the city.
But if - Beirut it's gone so bad. You can - it's up to you to imagine how the poor poorer neighborhoods have gone?
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. And you make a very, very good point. Mona, the French Foreign Minister is in Lebanon today. This marks the fifth visit to
Lebanon in less than a year by a high ranking French official. And we remember the images of the French President and on the ground sleeves
rolled up after the blast reassuring the people of Lebanon that they would not be forgotten that the French would help.
I just wonder do you feel that Lebanon is getting enough help from the French and from the rest of the international community. What do people
need to do next? I know that you're dealing with people on the ground, personally, I'm sure you've been through your own crises as well. But what
has to happen on a broader basis now to help Lebanon?
HALLAK: I mean you know the extent of the damage that the explosion has caused. But it's not only the explosion, before that there was the economic
crisis and now the compounded economic crisis. So all the promises that we got from the international community, including the French have not been
met, nobody wants to move.
And every time we - I work with several NGOs, I work on several projects in Beirut, of restoration of reconstruction as long as humanitarian support.
And every time we approach the international community, everybody wants when the government is - when you have a government - when the government -
when you have a government that we can deal with, you will not get a penny.
So all these talks about being helped is really a very small, very, very small percentage of what we expected. When Macron visited and when the
UNESCO Director visited we thought that everybody that money will come pouring. The money that came pouring is from the Lebanese Diaspora. They
have helped as much as they could.
Everything you see on the ground today, Lebanon and Beirut are standing only because of the private initiatives of its people and of the Lebanese
Diaspora and not of the international community. I'm sorry to say that. This visit is welcome and many other visits that we've had, but I don't
think - what we have expected has not been met to the least.
[11:50:00]
HALLAK: Now what we really need is that our next parliamentary elections are well monitored with an international community because it's our only
hope for change.
ANDERSON: That is what protesters well before the explosions of course were asking for just an end to the system that exists, and some honesty about
what happens going forward thank you Mona.
Tensions rising in another part of this region, 22 people were hurt in the latest clashes in East Jerusalem. There have been ongoing protests over the
possible evictions of several Palestinian families from a neighborhood that police moved in Wednesday after protesters refused to clear a road.
Well, the West Bank reeling after an Israeli and Palestinian teenager was killed in separate shootings this week. Palestinian Health Ministry said a
16-year-old Palestinian was shot in the back by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli Army says troops returned fire after they were attacked.
And a 19-year-old Israeli was buried today after he was killed in a drive by shooting south of Nablus. Two other teams were wounded. The alleged
government has been arrested. Well, still ahead tonight family matters especially if your loved ones are struggling through India's devastating
second wave of COVID-19. How Indian expats in Britain are stepping up even pedaling up to help?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The impact of India's COVID catastrophe is being felt around the globe particularly by Indian expats. There are a few if any, who don't know
someone in India who's been sickened or has died of COVID that is happening all over the world.
Our Scott McLean talked to Indian expats in the UK doing all they can to help friends and family back home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For two straight days they've been pedaling in the shadow of Britain's largest Hindu temple. They're a
long way from India, but the Coronavirus crisis there isn't far from anyone's mind. It seems everyone here knows someone trying to find oxygen
or medical help. Even some who've died without finding either?
ROSHNI SONEJI, CYCLING TO RAISE MONEY: You know when you're talking to your relatives, absolutely. You do feel really helpless. But I think that's
where in any way possible that we can help.
PRAFUL DEPALA, CYCLING TO RAISE MONEY: I and my wife had bat COVID my father who's in his 80s had COVID. And he was in hospital for about 30
days. So I know the value of oxygen, simply no oxygen. So it's a very personal thing for me.
MCLEAN (voice over): Nearly 800 cyclists peddle the virtual relay to Delhi and back racing more than $800,000 to help provide equipment, hospital beds
and oxygen to people in India all from just three temples in the UK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLEAN: The ties between the UK and India are endless. In fact, India is producing many of the vaccine doses that have made the UK's vaccine rollout
such a success. It's been so successful that some are now calling on the British government to slow down that rollout to send doses to India. The
government though so far has said no.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAYLA MORAN, BRITISH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MP: Will the minister now commit to both increasing the money the UK gives to Covax much that that is we need
to do more, but to also start sharing vaccine doses through Covax now today.
DR. TUSHAR AGARWAL, SURGEON: What vaccine does is it prevents COVID. Now we're already past that stage. We're at the stage where people are not
getting treatments. I think that should be the immediate focus.
[11:55:00]
MCLEAN (voice over): That is exactly the focus of Indian born doctors Tushar Agarwal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you still coughing? Are you feeling all right?
MCLEAN (voice over): Surgeons by day but using any spare moment to treat friends, family and total strangers in India through remote medical
appointments from their homes in London.
MCLEAN (on camera): Neither of you begrudge the British government for saying we don't have enough to share right now.
DR. AGARWAL: Not at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grudging is not the right thing to do for anyone.
MCLEAN (voice over): Patients they're seeing remotely have had little or no success getting in person medical attention in India.
DR. AGARWAL: At the moment I'm looking after 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 11 people.
MCLEAN (on camera): It sounds like a full time job?
DR. AGARWAL: Well, I'm spending seven hours on the phone every day.
MCLEAN (voice over): Reassurance is key telling people when they should or should not venture out to India's overrun hospitals.
DR. AGARWAL: So I could see what his heart rate was, what his oxygen saturation was what his respiratory rate was? So effectively, you're saying
you don't need to leave your home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the time now you need oxygen.
MCLEAN (voice over): Dr. Agarwal has already told several family members to go to the hospital, but they can't find a bed. Three others have died in
just the past week.
MCLEAN (on camera): It must be even more draining given that it's your own family.
DR. AGARWAL: Exactly. Yes. Yes. It makes you feel even more helpless because you know if what's the point of you being a doctor if you can't
even help your own family.
MCLEAN (voice over): Feeling helpless but trying to do their part? Scott McLean, CNN London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Interesting fact. India's second largest Diaspora is located right here in the UAE and the expat community here also stepping up to
help. Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir, helping prepare oxygen tanks and concentrators for send off to India, all part of this growing global effort
to get help to a nation now experiencing its darkest of dates in this pandemic.
We'll be bringing you more on what's going on here in the UAE in a report in the coming days, even in the terrible stories of pandemic unfolding
there are so many people willing to help. We've always got to remember to look for the helpers. Always remember that. It is a very good evening do
take care stay safe and do stay well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
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