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Last Major Rebel Stronghold Under Threat; Afghan President Announces Ceasefire With Taliban; Aid Workers Civilians Face Growing Risk; U.S. Supplied Bomb That Killed 40 Children In Yemen; Iranians Struggle To Pay For Basic Needs; Refugee Healing Through Art. Aired 11-12p ET

Aired August 19, 2018 - 11:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:00] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome. You're watching great world. I'm Becky Anderson for you in London and

today is World Humanitarian Day. On this show, we are focused on conflict and the people were working hard and the move. We bring news stories from

the front lines of war or meet the people whose lives have been turned upside down and the people trying to write them again.

And we begin with Syria. It all started here more than seven years ago what was a peaceful protest morphed into a civil war and continues to rip a

country apart. We've been connecting you to the horror of the conflict there since this amateur video was filmed in Daraa in March of 2011 and

tonight is no different. We are in Syria again. This time we're connecting you to Idlib bringing you rare access to the last rebel

stronghold and a refuge for refugees which is now under threat. My colleague Arwa Damon with this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There used to be an ice cream shop on the corner, kids playing in the street, a sense that the

violence would not strike here, at least not like this.

It's five days after multiple airstrikes hit this once quiet neighborhood in Idlib province killing dozens of people, shattering whatever illusion of

safety that may have existed. For seven years now, serious unraveling has been documented.

What's the point in all your filming, (INAUDIBLE) wants to know, for there is no humanity in this? In the world muted response to Syria's heartless

destruction.

Only one of Abraham's five children survived. It's just memories now.

The family next door displaced from elsewhere were all killed, seven of them. Also killed was a media activist Ahmed. Ahmed was just 20 years

old, a nurse and first responder by training, a role he played in his native Aleppo before the family was forcibly displaced to it Idlib as the

regime took over.

When he thought that the responders weren't there he threw his camera aside and went to save a little girl, Ahmed's father Mahmoud tells us. But

another strike came and killing them both. His parents seemed stoic together proud but in pain. But later as his mother showed Ahmed's

clothes, she breaks down.

In the room next door, his father shows us his photos. Tears he can't cry in front of his wife. They did everything together. A father-son team

documenting their nation's pain now directly a part of it. The clutter summer piece of life as we drive through Idlib province seems too belies a

looming violence. This is the last remaining main rebel stronghold.

Turkey, Russia, and Iran have been negotiating to ostensibly come to some sort of agreement to prevent the total massacre here by the Syrian regime

and its Russian backers. Turkey has military observation posts in the province and it's called an assault on it live a red line. Its border has

been closed and instead, a senior Turkish official says his government is pouring millions of dollars into swelling refugee camps.

(INAUDIBLE) is just saying that he remembers when there were just a few tents here and the rest of it was just the olive groves. And now you take

a look and it just has such an aura permanence to it all.

The Rolling Hills a stone's throw from the Turkish border have been transformed into a sea of homes of lost souls from Aleppo, Hama, Ghouta,

Darayya and elsewhere. As if the population has doubled in recent years as more Syrians arrived. It's also whereas other parts of the country fell

back into government control, the regime relocated residents and rebel fighters. For those here normal and home have been irreversibly redefined.

We can't go back ever, Mastapha al-Haibadi says. He doesn't trust the Assad regime.

And with nowhere left to go many feel like they're just waiting for their death sentence to be carried out. Arwa Damon, CNN Idlib province.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:05:11] ANDERSON: My colleague our there reporting from the last rebel stronghold and sprawling refugee camp in Idlib province. Well, here is

U.S. President Donald Trump's announced his country is ending funding to stabilize Syrian state. Part of it will redirect $230 million which had

been intended to help rebuild the country. In a tweet Mr. Trump said Saudi Arabia and other rich countries, the Middle East would start paying

instead.

Well, across the world, few paces are highlight the need to protect civilians and aid workers more than Syria. Today is World Humanitarian

Day, a reminder that these groups are not a target and a tribute to those who have lost their lives working towards a ferret world. Later in the

show I'll be speaking to the Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross Yves Daccord. Do stay with us for that.

Well, through a developing story from Afghanistan. Now the country's president announced a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban just a short

time ago. It comes as the Taliban claim they have taken control of a district in a northern province. The government has been unable to confirm

this. Well journalist Franz Marty join now by Skype from Kabul in Afghanistan. A ceasefire needs both sides to sign up. The government says

it's willing. What about the Taliban?

FRANZ MARTY, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: It's really -- it's as difficult to say. This is really just like not even (INAUDIBLE) announced talks about

another cease fired for the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha which starts on Tuesday. So the government just now offered that they are willing

contrary to the last (INAUDIBLE). This time they said the only house fire is the Taliban reciprocate.

The Taliban -- there have been reports of Taliban that also the insurgency is considering a brief ceasefire over this religious holiday. But for

example, yesterday in a in a message on the occasion of this upcoming holiday, the Taliban leader more or less reiterated quite belligerent

statements against the government and against what they term a foreign occupation with no hint of a ceasefire so it remains to be seen how and

when the Taliban reply to this offer.

ANDERSON: And this, of course, comes against the backdraft of an uptick in violence. We saw a similar pattern ahead of what was a unilateral

ceasefire on both sides back in June around the Eid holiday at that period of the year. So to all intents and purposes, what do you think any

ceasefire should it happen achieve given what is going on on the ground at present.

MARTY: Yes, I mean, violence has always been like taking off in infrequent intervals so in how far this is especially linked to offers of ceasefire is

hard to tell and probably also speculative. What is clear I think is that the government with these offers trying to designate the Taliban as the

party that are the warmongers. So with these offers to ceasefire the government tries to show a clear sign. We want the conflict to end. We

are ready to announce a ceasefire. We are ready to talk with the Taliban about everything and it's the Taliban that continued a war and I did say

hope to erode popular support for the Taliban.

In-house, this will work out it depends. The last time the ceasefire went very well but only for a few days. On the other hand, because (INAUDIBLE)

has very short ceasefire they were also like lot government casualty during the ceasefire so it remains to be seen how it plays out this time.

ANDERSON: Franz Marty with us from Afghanistan. Another country another conflict where so many humanitarian workers have either lost their lives or

being immeasurably affected on what is World Humanitarian Day we will discuss Afghanistan a little later in the show. Franz, thank you.

To southern India, thousands of people there are stranded or trapped by the worst floods to hit the area in eighth century. Rescue workers are

dropping food and aid packages to survivors. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives or so their homes. Many are taking shelter in

relief camps. At least 345 people have been killed since the monsoon season started in May. India's Prime Minister has promised millions of

dollars in aid.

Well, this has been a tough monsoon season and it's not over yet. I want to bring in our meteorologist Allison Chinchar. What can you tell us at

this point, Allison?

[11:10:18] ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So, Becky, the key thing to note is for the state of Kerala is that they've been looking at an

above average season. In fact so far for 2018, we are running about 11 percent above average with the majority of that really coming in in just

the last couple of weeks where we had those intense bursts of rainfall come through. The odd thing is when you look at India overall as a whole,

they're actually down almost eight percent. So really what some of the worst flooding has really been isolated to that Kerala State region.

Again, in portions of southern India.

Now, for the remainder of the evening tonight in India, we do still have some alerts and watches. The yellow in the orange color that you can see

here on the map for that southern region which is where the state of Kerala is. But by the time we get to Monday, notice how much more green begins to

impact this area. That's good that basically, the green means there is no warning, no action needed because at that point we finally start to expect

these rains to begin to lighten up. It's not even died down completely for that region temporarily speaking.

Basically, what's happening is we're starting to see a shift in that rain. It's going to become heavier for the central and the northern regions of

India allowing that southern region to get a bit of a break. Now, with that said we are experiencing very heavy rains and we'll be in that central

and northern region for the next several days. Most of those areas picking up widespread amounts of 50 to even 150 millimeters total. But it's the

southern region specifically city of Kochi and really the entire state of Kerala will get a little bit of a break.

Now, there is still rain in the forecast but this is monsoon season. That is normal. The point to take away from this is that it's going to be the

lighter rain showers and, in some areas, they may go multiple hours without any rain. So that's good news that will allow all of that flood water

that's already there to actually begin to recede, Becky, and a for them to start that recovery process of cleaning up.

ANDERSON: Alison, thank you. The latest from this. Well, people of North and South Korea are still trying to get over the war that's divided them

for nearly 70 years. Thanks to recent foreign relations while new round of family reunions is set for Monday. That include just a handful of those

still alive to remember the loved ones they haven't seen since the war and will likely will never see again after this week. Paula Hancock is in

South Korea with more what are these bittersweet reunions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There is a huge amount of excitement and anticipation in this hotel. This is where 89 families are

arriving this Sunday afternoon and Monday morning first thing they will travel to North Korea and they will reconnect with family members that they

have not seen in decades. So it is incredibly exciting time for all the people here. Now, the majority of them are aged 80 and above. More than

20 percent of them are in their 90's and certainly there is this sense it is a race against time to have as many people as possible reunifying with

families that they have lost touch with.

Now, it was back in the 1950s during the Korean War, that tons of families were torn apart and these family reunions happen fairly rarely it's only

really when relations between North and South Korea are good. And there was 57,000 people who wanted to be part of this round of reunions, only 89

have been able to be part of it. It is such a small reunion every time it happens and the really tragic example of just how time is running out is

the fact that there were going to be 93 people, more people in just the last few days of active life because of health reasons in many cases

showing just how desperate it is for there to be more of these reunions as quickly as possible.

Now, for the Red Cross they say, the number one priority for them is to make sure that they can keep these family members safe. Many of them are

certainly very elderly. But what we're also hearing is that this is a very bittersweet experience even though these are the lucky ones. these people

who will be going to North Korea reconnecting with family members they only have three days there. It is a very choreographed control event. There

are only several hours within each stage they are allowed to be with their loved ones. And then at the end of it they have to get on the bus, they

have to come back over the border into South Korea knowing is that is more than likely the last time they will ever see their loved one.

But certainly today, the anticipation is palpable in this room. There are a lot of people with big smiles on their faces, very excited for Monday

morning. Paula Hancocks, CNN South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:15:07] ANDERSON: Still to come on this show tonight. Munitions experts make a disturbing discovery. The bomb that killed dozens of

children in Yemen earlier this month was made in the United States. CNN's exclusive reporting on the deadly strike is later this hour. And conflicts

are getting deadlier for aid workers but their work is as important as ever. We mark World Humanitarian Day with the Director General of the

International Red Cross that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, GHANAIAN DIPLOMAT: The Syrian people have lived through many promise and they are living a nightmare today. And so even the day of

peace, a week of peace will be helpful for them to breath at all. I cry every day for the Syrians:

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Across the world. Tributes are pouring in for one of its most tireless humanitarians, Kofi Annan. You just saw a clip from when I

interviewed him back in 2012 in the early days of the Syrian war. Well, we know now that bloody and violent conflicts would tragically outlive him

despite his best efforts to resolve it. We're going to get you to my guess in that in just a minute but first some breaking news.

We're getting news into CNN of another major earthquake in Indonesia near Lombok. That's the island where a quake killed more than 200 people two

weeks ago. This new quake has a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 and was very shallow we are told. There aren't no tsunami alerts thus far, no word yet

on injuries or damage. We will get you as much information as we can as soon as we get it.

Well, from natural disasters to man-made wars and as we remember Kofi Annan we also spare a thought for all the others fighting to end humanitarian

crises around the world. Today is world humanitarian day. Right now, aid workers face a growing risk, conflicts are becoming deadlier for both them

and civilians. Well, let's get some insight from one of the best-known humanitarian organizations in the world, often first on the ground and in

the line of fire, Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Yves Daccord is joining me now from Switzerland via Skype.

You have millions of members and volunteers in over 190 countries working in conflict zones which we are told are becoming more fractured and more

deadly. Why do your members do what they do sir?

YVES DACCORD, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: They're doing it because they still are very, very committed about the idea

of the Red Cross which is anybody including your enemy, if you enemy is wounded this is a person is a human, these persons needs protection, need

help. We are deeply committed to this idea which is you know, and with the 50 years oath. And we see on a on a daily basis and we just saw in your

report about Syria, how important it is to have a unit and response in crisis. If we don't have any human response in crisis, I really believe

humanity will we lose -- will lose quite a lot.

ANDERSON: You just alluded to Syria. I want to bring up some figures which illustrate why today is so important. In the first six months of

this year more than 380 workers were reported killed, kidnapped, or arrested in 36 countries, the deadliest attack of those months was in

Afghanistan where four aid workers were killed in 27 wounded in an ISIS attack which targeted an NGO. That is a real challenge for organizations

like yours these days isn't it that you are not just in the line of fire but often the line of fire.

DACCORD: Yes, I think it is targeted and I think it says something about the world in which we operate right now. I think first of all these says

bands today war our first and foremost civilian war and the pressure is on civilian population and the warring party being government on unknown on

groups are ready to do anything to control civil. And what they discover more systematically is if you put pressure on health worker, on unit and

worker you also put on civilian population. This is exactly where we are right now.

ANDERSON: Do agencies, humanitarian organizations work effectively enough together do you think?

DACCORD: I think we do. I think the real issue for me is always to remember first and foremost the real -- the people really under pressure

offers the local responder. The first you know, the first responder. They are the one. Think about a health worker. So it's not just humanitarian,

it's really health worker. You know, local ambulance driver, doctors, nurses they are the one. And we've seen that in Syria or Yemen or in

Afghanistan or South Sudan where they are systematically attack.

And I think we as an international organization, we need absolutely to be aware of that and do our utmost not only to work with them on the spot

which is really central but also to make sure that international and humanitarian law protect them. We really fought hard to have the Security

Council having a unanimous resolution in 2016 saying health worker often it should not be a target. What I found striking though and just listening to

Kofi Annan just a minute ago is that we are sick has to say that in the 21st century. Everybody should know that health worker and humanitarian

worker should be protected. But more than ever we need -- we need really to push for it.

ANDERSON: Now, you're making a very important point on what is well humanitarian day. When we talk about aid works it is impossible to ignore

the recent harm from controversies over harassment to sexual abuse of the most vulnerable. Earlier this year a damning report from the U.K.

government saying sexual abuse was endemic in the international aid sector and the 86 scandal saw that country to spend Oxfam operations and a wave of

resignations within that charity. What are your thoughts on the damage done to public trust, sir?

DACCORD: So I think the critical issue when you're humanitarian worker is trust, you can't impose your humanitarian actions on people you need the

trust of the people. First and foremost, the people that you're trying to help and protect, if people starts to wonder about what you do and if they

start to wonder if you are abusing in a way their trust, that's just dramatic. So I think what has happened over the last few years is really

something extremely negative as an organization, but I know for as a leader very clear commitment on my side that if you are not willing to go all you

know, the mile necessary to make sure that the way we relate to people, people affected but also you know, warring party and really behave

perfectly well demonstrate every day that we are up to the standards then humanitarian actors will have a major problem.

ANDERSON: If we started the show listening -- this part of the show certainly listening to Kofi Annan who I last interview back in 2012 and

talking about how serious simply kept him awake at night. He was the U.N. envoy there at the time. He was heading U.N. peacekeeping operations of

course back in 1994 when hundreds of thousands were killed in the Rwanda genocide. He carried a weight then that he should have done more he said

telling a New York memorial conference in 2004 the international community failed Rwanda and that must leave us always with a sense of bitter regret

and abiding sorry but the political will was not there nor were the troops.

This man was a true humanitarian. I've interviewed him a number of times and a true gentleman. A career for Kofi Annan of triumph complicated would

you say by Rwanda?

DACCORD: Yes, absolutely. I think he has lived you know, directly the genocide of Rwanda and I have seen the limit of his own actions. And I

think what I found remarkable when you think about Kofi Annan and that's really what shows me that is not just a humanitarian but it was a real

leader, he was able to reflect on his own actions of what happens what was wrong and how to do it and he was also able to reflect that consensus is

critical and you don't build peace by few decision in New York or in Geneva.

You need to bring the people around the table including the one that maybe one day you call terrorists, you need to have them on the table trying to

find solutions. And this is maybe the thing that I was more amazed by Kofi Annan is the ability on one hand the extraordinary human and being aware

about you know, how important the life of everybody, every woman, every child every man is important at the same times being perfectly aware that

you need to have a consensus between states. You need to take you know, to have time to build -- to build what is needed to have peace. And he

understands the importance of peace and he's possibly one of the what a few who did it.

ANDERSON: Well, that we'll leave it there. We thank you. The Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross is Yves Daccord.

His time and expertise with us today extremely important. And we are also marking World's humanitarian day. Over the Web site there you can read a

piece by our global affairs analyst on how this year the day marks a grim reality highlighted by that deadly strike in Yemen just ten days ago which

left dozens of kids dead. That much more at cnn.com.

Well, just ahead a CNN exclusive report, the dozens of children killed by that airstrike in northern Yemen earlier this month were hit by an

American-made bomb supplied to the Saudi-led coalition. Sadly, this isn't the only deadly strike with an American weapon. We've got the details up

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:31:27] ANDERSON: All right, welcome back in -- if you're just joining us, you are more than welcome. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky

Anderson.

Now, a CNN exclusive report on Yemen. We are learning new and unsettling details about Saudi-led airstrike that hit a school bus fare earlier this

month. We now know that bomb was supplied by the United States. And sadly, the deadly incident is not the first time. An American weapon has

inflicted pain on the people of Yemen.

My colleagues CNN's Nima Elbagir has the details of this strike and others. But before we show you her report, I need to warn you this next segment

contains disturbing images despite that these are important and show the daily horror of life in Yemen for so many. This is Nima's report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Every day, Zaid Al Homran visits the graveyard where his two little boys are buried. Today,

he brought their five-year-old brother alone. He's all Zaid had left.

ZAID AL-HOMRAN, FATHER OF BUS BOMBING VICTIM, OSAMA (through translator): People were screaming out the names of their children. I tried to tell the

women it couldn't be true. But then, a man ran through the crowd shouting that a plane had struck the children's bus.

ELBAGIR: On August 9th, Zaid son, Osama filmed his class on their long- awaited school trip. A reward for graduating summer school within hours and it had all gone horribly wrong.

A plane from the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition struck a bus carrying them. Dozens died. Some of the bodies were so mutilated, identification

became impossible. All that left are scraps of school books, warped metal, and a single backpack. Eyewitnesses tell CNN, this was a direct hit in the

middle of a busy market.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I saw the bomb hit the bus. It blew it into those shops and three bodies clear to the other side of those

buildings. We found bodies scattered everywhere. There was a severed head inside the bomb crater.

ELBAGIR: This video of shrapnel was filmed in the aftermath of the attack and sent to CNN by contact insider. A cameraman working for CNN

subsequently filmed these images for us.

Munitions experts tell CNN this was a U.S.-made mark MK-82 bomb, weighing in at 1/2 a ton. The first five digits there are the cage number, the

commercial and government entity number. This number here denotes Lockheed Martin, one of the top U.S. defense contractors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're at the forefront of the science that makes them real.

ELBAGIR: This particular MK-82 is a pave way, a laser-guided precision bomb. It's targeting accuracy a particular point of pride for Lockheed

Martin.

Part of an arms deal with Saudi Arabia's sanction and contracted out by the U.S. government. So, why does this matter? Because the devastation

inflicted by the MK-82 is all too familiar in Yemen. In March 2016, a strike on a market using the similarly laser-guided 2,000 pound MK-84,

killed 97 people.

In October 2016, another strike on a funeral hall killed 155 people and wounded hundreds more. Then, the bus attack on August 9th, where they're

still counting the dead.

The U.S. doesn't just sell arms the coalition in its battle against the Iranian-backed rebel, Houthi militias. It provides intelligence, helps

with targeting procedures, mid-air refueling. President Obama blocked sales of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia over human

rights concerns.

Six months later, under the newly elected Trump administration then- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson overturned the ban.

[11:35:33] REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: Look, there's a balance that needs to be struck. The president

also noted that the Saudis have a right to defend themselves. They were being attacked from across the southern border by Houthis who were aided by

Iran and we're launching rockets and missiles.

And what I would tell you is that we certainly had under the Obama administration's deep concerns about the way the Saudis were targeting.

And we acted on those concerns by limiting the kinds of munitions that they were being given. And stridently trying to argue for them to be more

careful and cautious.

ELBAGIR: Saudi Arabia denies targeting civilians and defended the incident as a legitimate military operation. And a retaliatory response to a Houthi

ballistic missile from the day before.

When asked to comment on CNN's evidence, coalition spokesperson Turki al- Maliki, told us, "The coalition is operating in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, taking all practical measures to minimize

civilian casualties. Every civilian casualty is a tragedy." Adding that, "It would not be appropriate for the Coalition to comment further while the

investigation is underway."

The U.S. wouldn't comment on the origins of the bomb. But the State Department is calling for a Saudi-led investigation which the U.S. defense

secretary supports.

JAMES MATTIS, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Wars are always tragic, but we've got to find a way to protect innocent in the midst to this one.

ELBAGIR: Osama's cellphone footage is all that his father has left of the two boys, their last happy moments. Osama's father isn't optimistic that

an investigation will change anything. In a country where loss has become commonplace, they aren't even praying for justice anymore, just peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: My colleague, Nima Elbagir, joins me now live.

And bombs killed people, men, women, and children period. We know that U.S. bombs killing hundreds, if not thousands in Yemen is a really big

story.

Now, since your reporting, we get a feeling there is a sense that the U.S. is actually waking up to what is going on Yemen. American actor Jim

Carrey, tweeting about it just today. That was -- is that how you feel about what's going on at this point?

ELBAGIR: There does absolutely seem to be a sense that, that door is being pushed open. Where you had the act signed last Monday, in the aftermath of

the Yemen bus attack by Congress that President Trump was really antagonistic towards.

It was an act calling for greater oversight, giving 180 days for the Department of Defense to come back and report exactly on whether the Saudis

have gotten better with their targeting. And whether there is greater support for that. Because the concern has been and this we were hearing

specifically from Secretary of Defense Mattis.

But potentially, there is the scope for if this continues. And the U.S. continues to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, knowing that internally, they

acknowledge that there is all this concern about their targeting. And if mistakes, as the coalition has admitted to in the past continue to happen,

there could be U.S. legal culpability.

And that's a real concern and we've seen a whole plethora of lawmakers, Elizabeth Warren -- a lot of Democrats writing to the -- to the Secretary

of Defense, saying we are really worried about our moral and legal complicity on this.

ANDERSON: Where is Donald Trump in all of this? Because, of course, he was by selling weapons and arms to the Saudis, making America great again

to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.

ELBAGIR: And he specifically knowing that the Obama era-ban was very concerned about that laser-guided military technology. Came and said to

the Saudis, "Do you know what, those weapons that you like using, I will give you 10,000 of them."

So, we understand that they're about 10,000 of those -- of various types of MK-laser-guided weapons that have been responsible for some of the biggest

civilian tragedies. And were specifically banned under Obama and overturned by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The President Trump

went in and said, "You like using those? I will sell you more of those."

It is the Secretary of Defense General Mattis who is really holding back this force because he is a man who's seen the impact of this weaponry on

the ground and he knows what it does.

[11:40:07] ANDERSON: Before we move away from this, the investigation into that bus bombing, do we know any more at this point?

ELBAGIR: They are refusing to comment on the investigation. The concern that we have heard from human rights organizations, the concern that we've

heard on the ground is that in the past when this internal mechanism has found that there has been a mistake.

And it has called for reparations that those reparations have not been paid out. So, the worry is that the Coalition in the past has not acted even on

the recommendations of its own internal mechanism.

ANDERSON: Yemen, like Syria, is now a bloodied battlefield for the region's much bigger proxy struggle. So, I want our viewers just to see

this. Now, you can really see on this map that we have made for you viewers. Red for Iranian-backed rebels, Green for Saudi-led forces, yellow

for the local al-Qaida affiliate that the U.S. is bombing there.

Without international pressure, it seems very unlikely that the warring parties will attempt to negotiate an end to this. Why do you think there

is such a lack of Western pressure to put into what is a bloody, bloody conflict?

ELBAGIR: Because we're not given access. It is so difficult for journalists to get access on the ground. Repeatedly applications have been

either stalled or denied, it takes a long time not only to get your access from the coalition but then, to get your access from the Houthi side.

And people can't emphasize with what they can't see. And that's the difficulty for us as journalist.

ANDERSON: We have been.

ELBAGIR: Yes.

ANDERSON: We have. And Nic Robertson was on the ground. But you are right to point out it is very, very difficult to get in.

ELBAGIR: Yes, I mean, you -- It was brilliant that you were able to get us access. But it is very, very rare access like that. And you have to

continue to put these stories in front of the viewers and remind them that this is happening.

ANDERSON: Nima's in the house with me today. Nima, I appreciate it. Thank you very much indeed. Live from London, you are watching CONNECT THE

WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.

Coming up harsh words from Tehran after Washington launches a plan to change Iran's behavior. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson, welcome back. Iran heading back at the United States after

Washington unveiled what it calls an action group that charged with changing Iran's behavior on the world stage.

The Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is now calling, "It nothing less than an attempt to overthrow Iran's government. Pointing out that it was 65 years

ago today. But a U.S.-backed coup did just that.

Meanwhile, Iran is dealing with economic troubles made worse by new U.S. sanctions. My colleague Nick Paton Walsh has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[11:45:00] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tehran stood proud for centuries, but now life here changes by the week.

Everyone loved the Toyota until it breaks down. Yet, renewed American sanctions on cars and their parts kicking in a week ago being that few can

afford repairs, the spares are drying out. So, they sit here for months.

Three times as expensive. So, this is just, just in the last few months, this is now three times as expensive as it used to be.

"These with normally be full," (INAUDIBLE) says. You never think that a spark plug would become such values currency.

Donald Trump thinks that he is pushing the Iranian people to rise up against their government. Do you think that's likely to happen because of

what's happening here?

DAVOOD TARAJI, STRUGGLED MIDDLE CLASS RESIDENT IN IRAN: No.

WALSH: "No," he says. "Because the hungrier the people get, the more they're going to hate him. If compacted properly, people might even have

liked him."

Behind every car is a family and Davood Taraji is at the heart of the matter. It can't afford the parts to repair his taxi, but that hasn't

stopped the monthly repayments on it. And that's led to stark changes at home for the Davood's family, Artin, seven, and daughter Asal, 13.

As the local currency also plunges in value, their fancy refrigerator in their plush but tiny two-room apartment is suddenly empty.

"The price of an egg has doubled," he says, just like the price of fresh fruits and vegetables. Milk is about 40 percent more expensive. These are

the middle-class that Barack Obama wanted to win over by lifting sanctions under the nuclear deal. But onto whom, Donald Trump wants to pile

pressure, hoping to force political change.

Yet, instead, it's Artin's English lessons that may go first and perhaps Asal's guitar tutor, and then, perhaps even the family home will go on the

market.

The U.S. says Iran's government not its people of a target, but it's far more personal and painful here. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Tehran, Iran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: A reporting from Iran. I'm in London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, that healing through arts. We meet a talented young man

helping people do just that in one of the world's largest refugee camp.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:50:36] ANDERSON: Well, it's time for your "PARTING SHOTS" today. On this World Humanitarian Day, we head to one of the world's largest refugee

camps to meet a Syrian man using the power of art to help himself and others heal from what is the trauma of war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMED JOKHADAR, ARTIST FROM HOMS, SYRIA: "When the revolution took place, our situation in Homs become very bad. We kept moving from place to

place, we were trapped. If we stayed, we would have been destroyed. My name is Mohamed Jokhadar. I'm from Homs in Syria. I'm 32 years old.

Good morning.

SYRIAN CHILDREN: Good morning.

JOKHADAR: Which do you want, this one or this one?

I feel it's my duty to teach art to everyone. I teach my students the basics of art. Then, I try to get them to release their personalities

through art. Ever since I was young, peoples always said, 'An artist thinks differently than everyone else.'

Before the events in Syria took place, I used to paint everything. Beautiful faces, smiling faces, pieces that project hope, lovely pieces.

After the events unfolded, I began documenting the crimes and the situation we were living in. Stories of asylum, displacement, shelling.

When I first got to Jordan, I entered the Zaatari Camp and now I'm in my fifth year. You could say I felt safe here but your country is still your

country. It's hard to look back at your home and where you used to live.

My children grew up in the camp. They have no other life to compare to. My daughter tells me we're from Syria but she doesn't know where or what

Syria is.

I wish they could see the Syria I used to live in, the Syria that I know. But the current Syria, I don't wish for them to see it.

The day after entering the camp, I bought this shop. I learned how to be a barber a long time ago. It's a means of earning a living. Nothing more,

nothing less. I feel it's somewhat similar to art.

When I got here, I wanted to paint. So, I designed a small corner in the shop. Young people started coming to me. They were either just interested

in art or were talented and wanted to grow.

I began giving them lessons on my own account. I've always had an inclination towards art. It's hereditary, with both me and my brother

Tamer. He paints with coal.

To me, art is a message. As an artist, it's my duty to paint the truth. I paint killing, destruction, displacement -- everything. In this exact

moment where I am now, my dream is to get our country back, but this is just a dream. We're never getting our country back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:54:59] ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff. Well, you can always follow the stories. The team is working on throughout the day by using our Facebook

page that is facebook.com/cnnconnect.

Swear amongst other things, we look back on the incredible career and legacy of the late Kofi Annan, a man I interviewed a number of times over

my career. A true gentleman and he true humanitarian.

Again, that is facebook.com/cnnconnect. I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Well, for me -- team working with me this week in

London. Those back at base in Abu Dhabi, in Atlanta and around the world, we thank you for watching.

The news continues here on CNN "WORLD SPORTS", up next. See you same time, same place tomorrow. Live from London all this week.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END