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Children Have Frozen To Death In Syria; U.S. Evacuating 400-Plus Citizens From Cruise Ship; Manchester City Face Two-Year Ban From Champions League; At Least Five Countries Affected By Locust Plague; Pelosi: Any Of Our Candidates Would Be Better Than Trump; Viral Video Sparks Plane Seat Debate To Recline Or Not To Recline? Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 16, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She says I'm praying but death isn't coming from me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It looks like Judgment Day. A witness describes the largest displacement of people in Syria's long
war. We get you to Idlib, amid an exodus of biblical proportions. And the plague of a billion locusts devouring the food needed to feed millions of
people. Plus, America pulls out its own citizens from the Diamond Princess to quarantine them back stateside. But why now? Also --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE GOODALL, PRIMATOLOGIST: How come the most intellectual feature at the top of the planet is destroying its only home?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is something we've all got to ask ourselves. Jane Goodall tells me why we need to act and act now.
It's 5:00 p.m. in Damascus, it's midnight in Tokyo. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome to the show. This weekend, the world's top military and political
brass getting together in Munich in Germany. There was one very conspicuous absence from their agenda, and that is why I'm making it our main story
this hour. Parents waking up in Syria and finding their children frozen to death. Why? Because they had to leave the relative safety of their own
homes to run for their lives, to live in makeshift camps, all because their government is launching an all-out assault in what is the country's final
battle, and that is Idlib.
More than 800,000 Syrians have been displaced since the offensive began in December. That is, according to the numbers from the United Nations. We are
talking about an average of 10,000 people a day, every day, the vast majority them women and children. And if that wasn't bad enough, take a
look at these images. They are being forced to endure it all with temperatures reaching as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius. Many don't even
have a coat to keep them warm.
Syrian people trapped between a sealed Turkish border on one side and a massive air and ground raid by their own government on the other, a
government-backed by powerful Russian forces. Well, this is a look at the Battle itself. A Syrian military helicopter was down in the countryside
outside of Aleppo on Friday killing the entire crew on board.
Now, serious defense ministry claims it was carried out by Turkish backed organizations as ever in Syria, a lot of politics and finger-pointing.
Russia warning Turkey to back off, saying it should "refrain from provocative comments that could undermine constructive dialogue." Turkey
says the situation won't be solved until Syrian forces withdraw.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss the situation on Saturday, agreeing that these attacks are "unacceptable."
Well, if there is anybody can break down the complexities of this conflict, it is Arwa Damon. She's been on the front line in the camps speaking to
those on the ground from the very beginning. And she joins me now live from Hatay in Turkey which is just a short drive north of Idlib across the
border.
Unless we forget, we are talking about men, women, and children, tens of thousands of them affected here. describe what you have witnessed, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky we've made numerous trips into Idlib, but none were quite like this. It's
claustrophobic. People's desperation is almost suffocating. We ran into one family who had fled in the middle of the night. They'd walked for seven
hours. And Becky, some of the children didn't even have proper shoes. They had socks and flip flops. And temperatures that night had dropped below
freezing.
When we met them. They were exhausted. The kids cheeks were flushed bright pink, but they weren't even crying or complaining. There's a toughness to
them that no child should ever need to have or have even learned. The frontlines are moving so quickly that people are being displaced over and
over and over again, just trying to outrun the fighting. There aren't enough trucks for people to move their belongings quickly enough so they're
just having to leave everything behind.
One day we visit a village and within 24 hours we hear that there is shelling around it. The situation is unspeakably desperate, even by serious
standards. Here is a conversation we had with one family by the side of the road.
[10:05:58]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: Let people know that we are in pain, that we are hungry, that we're being killed. Poor people don't have anything to eat. I had 17 people in my
family. We don't have enough to eat. She says, all we have to support us is God. If people dies from the cold, what can I do? This is all that we can
do. We don't have money. We're having to burn the branches over there.
And this has also been a very widespread problem. People don't have enough coal to burn and so they're having to burn branches, they're burning rubber
in some cases, the fumes inside the tents are absolutely horrific.
I don't know. I can't complain to anybody. I can only try to hope that God will hear my pleas, that God will hear what we are saying for sure.
They've been on the road for two days. That's how bad the traffic has been, what they've been trying to pack everything up. And they're going to try to
go and find a place that at one of the camps down there. She's very -- she's afraid. They tried to reassure her when she's afraid. You know, the
kids know that they're having to leave because of the bombing. She's a bit sick.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: And Becky, of course, all this is creating a humanitarian catastrophe. Eight organizations just don't have the capacity to meet the
ever-growing needs. And given the bitterly freezing temperatures, people's families inability to warm themselves. Of course, more and more children
especially, are getting sick.
I'm joined now by Dr. Ahmad Rami, who is a pharmacist. Thank you so much for joining us. You're with the Syrian-American Medical Society. Sam has
been doing some incredible work inside Syria. But right now, if you could describe the situation when it comes to trying to access health care,
whether it's because a person has been wounded in a bombing or if they have a simple cold, and how has this wave of violence and fighting and bombing
affected your medical facilities.
AHMAD RAMI, LOGISTICS MANAGER, SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY: Thank you for hosting us. We are in the Syrian-American Medical Society, supporting
lots of health facilities inside Syria. They are very like hospitals, primary health care centers, and mobile clinics.
And the last two months where the ongoing escalation came in Idlib, we responding out to the people by providing mobile services like three of our
mobile clinics which are going to the IDP camps. And they provide the medical services, medicines, and they can just do admissions to the people.
So that we are going to the people who are there living and try to help them and then avoid them going on dangerous journeys to access to his
facilities far from them. Also, we have a lot of primary health care centers in all over the area Idlib now so we can provide the services to
the most people that we can reach.
DAMON: But you've also had to shut down some of your facilities.
[10:10:00]
RAMI: Yes. Since December 2019, we have been lost six of our facilities in Idlib. And now we are evacuating five of them in the areas close to the
front lines with regime forces moving forward. So now we are evacuating some of the facilities, but we have some challenges that we cannot find
proper places for them to operate again. But we are doing our best to operate them again in new areas. You know, the people are looking for
shelters and homes to live but they cannot found. So, this is one of the most challenges that we have.
DAMON: And when we were speaking earlier, you told me a heartbreaking story about a father and his daughter. If you could just share that with us
again.
RAMI: Yes, as you -- as you know that the frozen (INAUDIBLE) are now in Syria. In the last week, in one of our heads facility, a father came from a
camp at 5:00. He walked for two hours carrying his daughter and come to our hospital. But unfortunately, when he arrived to our hospital, his daughter
was died and was away because of freezing. So we cannot do anything to help her. We just been sad for this story. And maybe there's a lot of such types
of stories in Syria. We don't know about them.
And as you know that this cold will bring a lot of diseases especially for the children and the woman. So the influenza, the diarrhea, malnutrition,
and everything that they can suffer that increase the crisis of people, especially for the health services.
DAMON: Thank you so much for joining us and for the work that you're doing. And Becky, we did see so many children who were sick, whose parents told us
that they sick. We actually met a family whose baby died because of the cold because they ran out of things to burn that night and temperatures had
dropped well below zero. So you have this situation where everything is being exacerbated by the winter temperatures. Add on top of that families
fleeing over and over and over again.
And this time Becky, it's not just that they're fleeing the bombs. What they're also doing is fleeing the regimes ground advance because so many of
them will tell you that if Bashar al-Assad's forces reach them, they are terrified that they will either be massacred or detained. And that is one
of the many reasons why they get up and leave so quickly.
This is a population that is an absolute terror and fear and doesn't really know where to go or how to guarantee their safety.
ANDERSON: Which is why this has been described by witnesses as feeling like Judgment Day. Our thank you for that. Joining me a little later on the
program, the United Nations -- the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock. We're going to look at what the world is doing
or perhaps isn't doing to help the people who are in desperate need. That coming up in the next hour or so.
Well, the World Health Organization warning it's impossible to predict which direction the novel coronavirus outbreak will take global cases well
over 69,000. The vast majority is still in mainland China. The death toll is now surpassed 1,600. Four people have died outside Mainland China. Well,
China itself reporting a drop in new cases for a third straight day. Officials there saying that is a sign that they are controlling the
outbreak.
Meanwhile, hopes dashed for hundreds of passes aboard a quarantined cruise ship docked in Japan. The United States is becoming the first nation to
evacuate its citizens from the Diamond Princess. This video captured by U.S. citizen from Utah. She is waiting to get on one of those buses to go
to the airport. But now, exhausted and hungry, she along with 400 others are facing another two weeks of quarantine back home.
Well, CNN's Will Ripley is in Yokohama near the ship. First, let's get you to Matt Rivers who is in Haneda, Airport in Tokyo. Matt?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, as you can see, just over my right shoulder there, there are two 747 planes that have been
chartered by the U.S. government. They just arrived here within the last hour and a half or so. And these are the planes that are going to be taking
nearly 400 Americans when they leave the ship.
That's about 20 minutes away from where we are now. We're expecting them to leave soon. Will can give us an update on that. But when they leave,
they'll be coming here on the buses. They will be put on those planes and they will be flown to the United States. And then Becky, what happens is
that two-week quarantine period begins.
[10:15:16]
Both planes will go to Travis Air Force Base in California. Some people will be led off there, others will be then forwarded on to Lackland Air
Force Base, which is in the city of San Antonio in Texas, and they'll be -- they'll be doing this two-week quarantine in both of those places.
And now, this is what people are frustrated about. Some of the passengers that we spoke to, you know, they understand the concept of public health.
They understand that the U.S. government has to do what it has to do in terms of making sure the infection doesn't spread. But their question is,
well, where was the U.S. government 10, 12 days ago? Why were we forced to stay on board this ship?
And you know, it's a legitimate question. I mean, the CDC, the State Department says they're doing this out of an abundance of caution. But
Becky clearly people are frustrated as eventually, they're going to make their way here to the airport for a long flight back to California.
ANDERSON: So, Will. When are those passengers who can leave schedule to get off the ship?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, it's -- they've been waiting on that ship for nearly two weeks, and yet I can tell
you the last two hours have probably felt for some of them like the last two weeks because it's just -- this process is just dragging on and on. Two
hours ago, is when they first heard the announcement on the ship that they should begin the disembarkation process.
But you can see from pictures that we took just moments ago, the buses that are outside the ship have not yet moved, passengers are loading onto the
buses. Many of them are sitting on the buses and they've been sitting for quite some time. This is after they were told earlier today to pack all
their belongings. They were told to dress in layers because the aircraft that they'll be flying on is a converted cargo plane, not particularly
comfortable, not particularly warm necessarily.
They were told to bring snacks and water and prepare themselves for a long uncomfortable journey to military bases that Matt was talking about where
then they begin this quarantine process all over again. So you can understand the nerves that they're feeling and rightfully so, I suppose.
But, you know, there are a lot of passengers that have been calling for this, calling on the U.S. government.
And just recently, the Centers for Disease Control acknowledge that people who remain on that ship, the Diamond Princess face a higher risk of getting
infected with a novel coronavirus than others. So let me just show you a little glimpse of what a woman from Utah that has been sending us video of
her disembarkation process. Here's a little bit of what she's going through. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're here to take us away. There's like 15 of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Will, that's fascinating. I mean, you know, relief it seems turning to frustration for those passengers who are able to leave. What
happens to those who don't have permission to leave the ship?
RIPLEY: This is what has been the most heartbreaking aspect of all of this because we've been following an American couple, Rebecca and Ken Frazier
from Oregon who Rebecca tested positive for coronavirus. She is in the hospital right now continues to show no symptoms. When we went visit her
yesterday, she was feeling great.
And she was convinced that she would be tested in with test negative and would be allowed on this flight so that she could be reunited with her
husband Kent, and they could at least ride out the rest of this quarantine together in their home country, hearing familiar voices, eating familiar
food, one step closer to coming home.
So when she got that negative test result, and keep in mind there are four dozen or so Americans now and their family members who are now staying
behind because they're not going to board those flights. Ken certainly said it wasn't an option that he's going to get on a plane without his wife. But
yet when he asked the U.S. infectious disease doctors what the plan was for people like them, the response he got was, we don't know, we don't have a
plan.
They're focusing right now on getting the hundreds of Americans off. And then I guess they figured out what to do with the rest. So that's obviously
not particularly encouraging for those people. I should also add, Becky, that the United States is doing this now, but a lot of other countries are
starting to follow suit. Italy, Canada, South Korea, Australia, they're all now going to be flying in their own planes to repatriate their citizens as
well.
And in a lot of those countries, those citizens will also have to go through similar 14-day quarantines on top of the time they've already spent
on the ship.
ANDERSON: And what have Japanese authorities been saying?
RIPLEY: Well, they are claiming that they had to keep people in their cabins to protect them and to try to prevent this outbreak from spreading.
But if you look at the numbers, 70 new cases confirmed today, you know, more than 65 new cases, I think was 66 or 67 yesterday, you know, now more
than 400 cases that the country is handling. 356 of them tied to the cruise ship, but also the illness is now spreading not connect to the cruise ship
as well.
And Japan really needs to figure out a way to save face in this situation because, you know, if it looks like other governments don't have faith in
their quarantine or if they think it was a failed quarantine, then obviously, it's very embarrassing for the Japanese government and raises
credibility questions about their assurances that everything is going to go very smoothly over the next few months as they get ready for Tokyo 2020.
[10:20:22]
ANDERSON: Will Ripley and Matt Rivers on the story for you. Thank you, guys. For days now, experts have been questioning the Japanese government's
decision to quarantine people on the ship. And the U.S. evacuation, as Will suggests, they're putting pressure on other governments to do the same.
That and more analysis on digital @cnn.com.
One of the world's most valuable soccer clubs gets benched. The story behind UEFA's ban on the English Premier League's reigning champions
Manchester City and what it means for the clubs future. In a part of the world already dealing with hunger, a swarm of locusts is making a bad
situation much worse. Plus, etiquette is important even on an airplane. We take a look at what happened when one passenger decided to recline and
another wasn't pleased. Details on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A seismic shakeup in the world of football. Reigning premier league champions Manchester City have been kicked out of Europe's elite
competition, the UEFA Champions League for the next two seasons. Now, UEFA, the governing body for European football concluded that City committed
serious breaches of its financial fair play rules and issued the club a $32.5 million fine.
UEFA gave Manchester City the red card after ruling that the club overstated how much money it made in sponsorships. According to UEFA, City
reported it made around $30 million between 2012 and 2016, from Abu Dhabi airline Etihad. And that was for naming rights for its stadium and
licensing for the club's shirt.
But according to UEFA, it was the club's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi ruling family who funded the vast majority of
those sponsorships. And that goes against you UEFA's rules standing its terms clubs must raise a certain amount of cash from actual business
activities to deter them from overspending and prevent clubs from becoming the play thing of wealthy owners.
UEFA says Manchester City was also punished for failing to cooperate with the investigation. Well, Manchester City club denying any wrongdoing and
issued this statement in part saying, "Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today's announcement by the UEFA judiciary chamber The
club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of
irrefutable evidence in support of its position."
Well, CNN's World Sports Anchor, Patrick Snell joining me now live from Atlanta. Manchester City say they are disappointed but not surprised. Where
does this leave the club, Patrick?
[10:25:42]
PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Becky, when this broke on Friday, wow, what a reaction from the world of soccer. I mean just
a huge story. For me, already the biggest football story in the world as of right now this season. A couple of things to your really excellent summary
where we are right now, Becky, is the fact that City are still in this city's Champions League. That is important to point out.
They're through to the round of 16 without play Real Madrid later on this season. And something else is really -- later on this month, I should say.
And something else that's important is the fact that they are absolutely going to fight this. They're going to take this to the highest sports court
in the land, the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Switzerland as well.
But we've been getting reaction over the weekend because we have been seeing some Premier League matches being played namely one on Saturday that
caught our eye where Liverpool played at Norwich City. Now the two head coaches, here really interesting dynamic between Pep Guardiola, the City
manager and Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager. Afterwards, Klopp with this to say on the situation there at Manchester City. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JURGEN KLOPP, MANAGER, COACH, LIVERPOOL: Lots of shock I saw it. Somebody sent me I think the headline and yes, the only thing -- I have no idea how
these kinds of things -- how it works, how it happens. The only thing that I can say as a football coach is Man City under Pep Guardiola since I've
been here play sensational football. And yes, that's how it is.
I always admired what they do, what he's doing, what they do, and (INAUDIBLE) in this moment, obviously. But I can imagine it's hard. It's
really hard in the moment for these people. You trust your people, they tell you you're fine and the obviously the way it fair is slightly
different. And now they have to deal with it. I have no idea what will happen next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Yes. And you can tell from that, Becky, the huge mutual self-respect there between masters Guardiola and Klopp.
ANDERSON: Yea, Manchester City, they been on a winning streak in the English Premier League under the current manager Pep Guardiola. The club,
though, hasn't won the prestigious Champions League. And this new band would put that dream on hold for at least two more years. So the question
is what happens next, I guess Guardiola and the players, Patrick?
SNELL: Yes, that's a really relevant talking point right now, Becky. Because look, City have these elite players. They have elite coach
Guardiola. Two questions, really. How will they attract big-name players moving forward because there's no question, City now a team in transition.
They need to reboot. They need to rebuild. How do they keep the actual stars that they have at the moment, players like Sergio Aguero?
But let's get on to Guardiola because this is a man obsessed with winning the flagship Champions League tournament. He hasn't done it since he won it
when he was at Barcelona. He missed out on it when he was Bayern Munich head coach and he hasn't won it at Manchester City thus far. Speculation
that he might have left the club anyway, Becky, at the end of the season. Some believe this is actually the final straw and that he may absolutely
leave now. We're still watching this space of course.
But City have never won this tournament in a long and famous history. They are desperate to win it. There's not a doubt in my mind, Becky, that Pep
Guardiola was hired only at Manchester City, yes, to keep on winning Premier League titles, but to win that elusive one, the Champions League.
ANDERSON: Yes, I don't doubt that for a moment. Patrick, thank you. This story continues and we will keep you up to date on the very latest. Well,
farmers in Africa have enough to worry about, now locusts have moved in. We're going to take a look at how the U.N. is working to keep crops and the
humans they feed safe from what is an enormous swarm. Plus, Ukraine's president chats with my colleague Christiane Amanpour and gets a few
laughs. But the challenges he's facing are no laughing matter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:32:44]
ANDERSON: Well, our top story, nearly a decade into one of the bloodiest and longest conflicts ever seen. The world seems to be turning its back on
Syria.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are now trapped in Idlib province with nowhere to go. The presidents of the U.S. and Turkey agree the attacks
there are unacceptable. But that hasn't stopped the Assad regime's crackdown on the last ground held by Syrian rebels.
They are huge, hungry, and seemingly unstoppable. A horde of marauding locusts eating through food meant for millions of people in East Africa.
Even though they are called desert locusts they love rainfall, and warmer sea temperatures could make this a far more common event.
To say these guys can eat a lot is an understatement. In just one day, a single adult locust will eat his own weight in food, and a local swarm can
consume as much as 35,000 people, 20 camels, or six elephants.
When East Africa, some 19 million people are facing food insecurity, so there's not enough food for humans, there's obviously no extra for an
invading army of locusts and army that has launched its worst invasion in decades.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ravenous and ruthless, locusts have been known and feared by the world's most ancient civilization. But their biblical infamy is all too
real today.
Right now, millions of these insects are sweeping across the farmlands of East Africa. Some reports say there are billions, destroying crops, and
threatening livelihoods. For farmers across the region, this is the sound of danger.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We depend on light on this season, and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest. And we will
end up remaining hungry throughout the rest of the year. Waiting for October when we have the next cropping season.
ANDERSON: This year's locust invasion is so bad that the U.N. is warning of a serious food crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia.
The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture organization, says massive food assistance now may be needed.
[10:35:07]
MWANGI KIUNJURI, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, KENYA: We recognize that the pest invasion and potential to spread rapidly to other counties force
unprecedented threat to food security, and livelihoods in the country.
ANDERSON: Somalia has already declared a national emergency, and the U.N. warns this could become the most devastating plague of locusts in living
memory if the world doesn't step up against the onslaught.
Climate experts are blaming unusual heavy rainfall and cyclones, which provide ideal environments for rapid breeding for this year's massive
swarms. And with wetter and hotter weather than usual forecast until May, they warn the worst is yet to come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the FAO, is in the region trying to stop the swarm, crews are spraying
pesticides on the ground and from the air. But time is not on their side, swarm can move to other countries in just days.
Keith Cressman is with that U.N. agencies, just got back from the region and has seen firsthand the utter devastation these pests can inflict.
Keith, just describe what you saw.
KEITH CRESSMAN, SENIOR LOCUST FORECASTING OFFICER, UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION: Well, just a few weeks ago, Becky I was in
northern Kenya and there -- there's hundreds of swarms in the area. They're flying. You see them come in early in the morning. Raising from the ground
ready to fly. They move towards farmers' crops and they get into those crops, and by mid-day, they've eaten right through the farmer's crops.
And you have to realize, Becky, that these crops, they are the livelihoods there, the food security of that family, perhaps of the community not only
for this year but also for probably next year, because this year is an abundant crop, a crop with good rainfall.
Last week, I was in northeastern Somalia. There, the swarms have already laid eggs. Those eggs have hatched. And the wingless hoppers there, they're
moving across the plains that are so important to the -- to the herders and the pastoralists. It's like moving carpets of locust. You can hardly see
the ground.
ANDERSON: I know all this may have started back in 2018, with a cyclone that created these little lakes in the -- what's known as the Empty
Quarter. That is a huge swathe of barren desert that reaches across Saudi Arabia and into the UAE where this show is normally based.
Locust use these lakes to breathe with climate change, likely giving rise to more cyclones. As I understand it, that could mean more breeding grounds
for this pest. You know, just how do you assess the impact of climate crisis in a situation like this?
CRESSMAN: Well, it's extremely important because, of course, the desert locusts, they're integrated completely with nature. Now, as you mentioned
rightly, a year and a half ago, there was a cyclone in the empty quarter in May of 2018. It brought conditions favorable for locusts to increase about
400 times. Just when the conditions are drying out, another cyclone entered that same area in October of 2018, giving further rise to locusts.
Now, as a result to that situation alone, there is probably three generations of locusts breeding. Now, there's an exponential increase with
every generation of breeding by about 20 fold. So, that means after nine months or three months of generations of breeding, that's 8,000 fold
increase of locusts.
Now, if we see this increasing trend of cyclones, and we've been noticing this now for the past few years. For example, in 2019, there were eight
cycles alone in the Indian Ocean. Normally, there's none or perhaps one. So, if this trend does increase, certainly there will be more outbreaks,
more desert locust upsurges, just like the one that we're seeing now in the Horn of Africa.
ANDERSON: And you have described this latest outbreak as a major shock. Just how bad could things get and what do you need as an agency to try and
mitigate the impact?
CRESSMAN: Well, you have -- you have to understand where this shock is occurring and this occurring in the Horn of Africa, it's a very vulnerable
part of Africa. They faced a series of droughts in the past. Now, they have heavy rains and floods. And now on top of that, they have locusts.
So, the locusts is just kind of tipping the balance in a very negative direction. There is already 13 million people in that region that are in
acute food insecurity. This is just one level below famine.
[10:40:01]
CRESSMAN: 75 percent of those people live in areas that are now currently infested with desert locusts. As a result, FAO, and the other U.N.
agencies, we have appealed for $76 million, about a week ago, in order to upscale the aerial control operations.
We have a very small window in order to achieve this before the next planting season. And of course, at that time and that planting will be the
new generation of swarms that are now hatching and developing in Kenya and Ethiopia and Somalia.
So, the timing of this breeding, the timing of the rains, the timing of the planting, could be very devastating to food security and livelihoods in
that region.
ANDERSON: So, bottom line here, so, if you don't get the help that you are appealing for briefly, what happens?
CRESSMAN: Well, of course, if we don't get the help that we're appealing for, or for some reason that the control operations are not successful, the
locusts they just continue to breed. And between now and June there could be a 400-fold increase of locusts. So, a further increase. More swarms are
formed in Kenya, as well as in Somalia and Ethiopia. And they would move then and expand to other areas. They move into South Sudan, into Sudan.
They could even move from the Horn of Africa, across the Indian Ocean to India and Pakistan in time for the monsoon rains that start there around
summertime.
ANDERSON: Start warning from the U.N. Sir, thank you for that.
Well, I want to get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter and
adviser Ivanka Trump is in the UAE promoting women's economic empowerment.
Earlier, she delivered the keynote speech at what is a two day Global Women's forum in Dubai. Before that, Ivanka Trump met with businesswomen in
Abu Dhabi.
Well, a U.N. Special envoy says the arms embargo against Libya has become a "joke". She says the country is awash in weaponry. And she says there needs
to be more accountability for those who violate the embargo. She said the truth in Libya's civil war is hanging by a thread.
Well, still ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson, the Taliban, and the U.S. may be inching closer to a peace deal, but Afghanistan's
government is concerned. An update from Munich in just a few moments.
Plus, historic changes in this year's Nevada caucuses, but the first day of early voting didn't go so smoothly. Details on that, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:44:56]
ANDERSON: Well, politicians, diplomats, and security experts gathered in Germany over the weekend for the annual Munich Security Conference.
Organizers of the event say it is for both official and non-official diplomatic initiatives to -- and I quote them here, address the world's
most pressing security concerns.
Well, with the goal of comprehensively defining security along economic, environmental, and human dimensions, one major international security
matter was hardly mentioned the war in Syria.
As we've talked about, in a matter of weeks, at least 800,000 Syrians have been displaced, fleeing a bombardment of attacks on the city of Idlib.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENNETH ROTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: There has been shockingly little attention at the Munich Security Conference to what may
be the world's worst humanitarian crisis in waiting.
What is threatened today is not simply a bloodbath within Idlib, but also a humanitarian and refugee crisis for Europe. Because Turkey for the moment
has closed the border to further refugees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, another war, did get a lot of headlines at the conference set of the war in Afghanistan in particular and agreement reached between
the US and the Taliban to reduce violence ostensibly.
While it stops short of a concrete peace deal, it is viewed as a first step in negotiating efforts with the Taliban, who want the U.S. out of
Afghanistan. Well, the Afghanistan government has expressed concerns about the agreement and wants reassurances from the United States.
CNN's international diplomatic editor Nick Robertson has the details.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: This was something that Mark Esper delivered on. That was the state of play of the talks for the
Taliban a reduction in violence, he said was going to provide a political space in Afghanistan to move forward. U.S. officials got into conversations
here with Afghan officials, because of course, the Afghan government not involved in those U.S.-Taliban talks.
And the Afghan government saying they need more special Felicity on how the rules are -- how the reduction in violence will be monitored, what -- how
they will make determinations about? You know, who commits the violence, and then, what should happen about it.
So, more granular detail is the request from the Afghan government. Nevertheless, they're saying they do support this initiative by the United
States with the Taliban. And they say they got a reciprocal commitment from the United States. So, they will not be left alone.
They do expect over the coming months that if this plan works out with the Taliban, then there could be a reduction in the number of U.S. troops
inside Afghanistan. But on the flip side, they say they expect to see a bigger counterterrorism effort, more CIA involved in Afghanistan, and as
well, they would get more equipment from the United States in support for those counter-terrorism initiatives.
ANDERSON: Well, Russia was at the forefront to for global security discussions in Munich. In particular, the matter of Russian involvement in
multiple conflicts in the world. Its military in Ukraine's Crimea region and its involvement in Syria, a big story for us this hour to name about a
few.
Ukraine's president opened up to CNN's, Christiane Amanpour, about his concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): I have my internal feeling that's not only the feeling, but it is based on the steps
that we are making that virtually we will be able to secure the ceasefire and ensure the return of our territories. I don't know how much time we
will need for that.
I will be candid by saying that Europe wants it and I know in the normal format that the main thing is that Russia wants it. Honestly, Russia should
want to give our territory, our land back to us.
We are defending our country, our land. We are not attacking anyone, because it's immoral. It's not up to date. It's not civilized. That's why
we are addressing everyone. And I want to say candidly, what does Europe or United States have to do, in our case, they have to decide themselves.
Why it will not happen? If there is no Ukrainian strong army, there will be no Ukraine and that will be the case when everyone will understand. That's
why I said it's not the war in Ukraine, it's the war in Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, President Zelensky also discuss Ukraine's relationship with the United States. His outlook on it is more positive to say the least.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:49:54]
ZELENSKY: Now, I'm very popular in USA. But I didn't want to find such way, but, you know, but if this way will help Ukraine, I'm ready for next call
with Mr. Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The bright side of life, of course, the Ukraine scandal led to President Trump's impeachment but it did not lead to his removal from
office, Democrats now focusing on doing that the old-fashioned way through an election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also spoke to my colleague Christian Amanpour about maintaining unity as her party moves forward in nominating a
candidate. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: I think every one of our candidates, all 25 -- I don't know if Michael Bloomberg is counted in the
25, but Michael Bloomberg too, have made a very valuable contribution to the debate. Putting forth their vision, their knowledge, their judgment,
their strategic thinking about how to connect with the American people, about a better future for a country. Easy to say any one of them would be a
better president than the current occupant of the White House. But we want to do to be very positive about how we go forward. And this is -- this is
how you make those decisions.
So, I'm grateful to all of them for putting themselves on the line, putting forth their ideas. And now we come down to the winning winnowing process.
But I see everything as an opportunity, and I see -- and I, quite frankly, with all the respect in the world for Iowa, and New Hampshire, I'm not
counting Joe Biden out. There still races ahead that are much more representative of the -- of the country.
The differences of opinion are what we are about. We're not a lockstep, take it from the top down, this is what it's going to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And that's Nancy Pelosi. And you can watch that full interview -- an exclusive interview on Monday at 6:00 p.m. London time, 10:00 at night
back at base in Abu Dhabi and wherever you are watching in the world. Well, I'm sure you can work out the time.
Well, things are moving a pace and that all-important American election. Right now for the first time in caucus history, voters are heading to
precincts across Nevada for early voting followed by the big caucus day on Saturday.
Nearly, every Democratic candidate is campaigning throughout the state today. However, early voting got off to somewhat of a rocky start there on
Saturday, caucus-goers at one precinct in Vegas stood in line for more than three hours.
All the problems stem from a large voter turnout and not enough volunteers to process them.
Well, the U.S. elections might be 261 days away. Yes, I've just counted. But one of the world's most legendary conservationists is urging Americans
to get out and vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOODALL: -- this world, but the protection from migratory birds. (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Why Jane Goodall say she hopes anyone who cares about the environment will use their vote to unseat President Trump. That interview
is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:55:28]
ANDERSON: Well, you might want to sit down for this next story, but don't lean back. Oh, no, no, no, not yet. Anyway, Richard Quest takes a closer
look at this viral video which begs a line from Shakespeare to recline or not to recline. That is the question.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: When Wendi Williams reclined her seat on an American Airlines flight, she had a little idea of the trouble
that was in store. She says she was flying back from a teacher's convention. When the man sitting behind her, asked if she would return her
seat forward while he ate his meal. Williams says she did, and that she reclaimed it again, only when he was finished eating.
But William says, the man started punching her seat repeatedly as the video shows. CNN is not able to reach the man in the viral video for comment. To
recline or not recline, it's not the first time the issue has been brought up in the close quarters of economy.
In 2014, a United Airlines flight was forced to divert when two passengers got into an altercation over a gadget called the knee defender. The tool
was invented by Ira Goldman in 2003. The idea is to block the seat in front of you from reclining. Goldman told me it's all about passenger consent.
IRA GOLDMAN, INVENTOR, KNEE DEFENDER: If I buy an economy ticket, and it's this much space, that's the space I get. But I don't agree when I get on an
airplane, to saying, sure, come and whack me on the knees.
QUEST: And so, the traveling world is once again roiled by the question of reclining seats in economy, and just what is the right thing to do? As
airlines cram in more seats to fit more passengers, they're going to have to reckon with the consequences of their design. Richard Quest, CNN, New
York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What a world we live in. More from us after this very short break. Do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
