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Connect the World
Mayor: Phoenix Is Setting Records In COVID Ventilator Use; Chin's Government Mobilizes To Combat Widespread Flooding; Yemen: More Than One In Four Who Contract COVID-19 Will Die; South Africa Battles Dual Crises Amid Pandemic; Football Star Speaks Out On Online Racist Abuse. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired July 13, 2020 - 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)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Florida continues to grapple with skyrocketing daily COVID numbers and hospitalizations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ventilator usage has gone up also full at capacity but it does causing a lot of concern.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are all very concerned about the rise in cases but we are in a much better place. This is not out of control.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We continue to have a real challenge with testing. We are setting records of the type you don't want to set.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well this hour, it's hard to find a speck of good news on the pandemic, anywhere in the United States. I'm
Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to our expanded edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.
COVID chaos gripping America as a spike in new cases reaches record levels in some states. Right now we are looking at some bleak and, quite frankly,
remarkable new numbers. Keep in mind the U.S. has a population of 330 million people. As of today, 3.3 million of them have tested positive for
coronavirus. That is one out of every 100 Americans.
Now, cases are rising in almost two-thirds of U.S. states led by Florida which just shattered a very unwelcome record. Federal, state and local
officials are struggling over what to do next? After Florida posted a new one day tally of more than 15,000 cases that is the worst of any state in
United States.
And in Miami-Dade County, official say ventilator use is up a staggering 129 percent. Well, that's the story in Florida. I want to get to you though
to Phoenix, which is the Capital of Arizona, next which is also setting records.
The Mayor says the state is seeing a surge in COVID ventilator use there as well, and even as the virus rages, Arizona won't mandate face coverings.
CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro is in Phoenix and he joins me now live. Evan, looking at the numbers, what does Arizona's story says about the nation
itself?
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, that's a great question. Let me set the stage for you, though. I'm here at the Valley Wise
Medical Center which is one of the hospitals in the Phoenix area, one of these wealthy cities in America that is now hit with this pandemic.
Doctors and the medical system are stressed. They've got two numbers for you that I think really tell the story. 89 percent, which is the number of
ICU beds currently in use, those intensive care beds that are so important, 89 percent of them in use, and 86 percent, which is the number of total
hospital beds used.
The medical system is under extreme pressure. I asked the President of the Arizona Medical Association about what he's seeing and what he needs here
to treat this pandemic?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ROSS GOLDBERG, PRESIDENT, ARIZONA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: Everything and anything we need available. We need testing, we need PPE. We need
everything just as much as we can. Especially as our protocols go up for safety, we're going to burn few more PPE, so the more stuff we can keep on
getting in, the better off we'll be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCMORRIS-SANTORO: So, now, Becky, back to your question about what this story says about the rest of the country? I live in New York City, and I
thought the things that I saw there were going to be gone, pretty much, by the time we got to this time of the year.
But here I am in another state, in Arizona, that is having pretty much the same problems. So we're seeing ventilator capacity going down, we're seeing
hospital capacity getting closer and closer to the very, very limit of danger zone.
We're seeing testing, very hard to get it. And we're seeing that argument between state leaders and local leaders about how best to react to this?
The Governor of the state has not set a statewide mask mandate, which means in some places in Arizona you are required to wear a mask, and other places
you're not.
Local leaders and public health officials tell me that kind of piecemeal approach makes it harder for them to get this pandemic under control.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Fascinating. All right, thank you for that concerning news for the millions of people around the world who thought they were immune to the
virus after already contracting it once. A new study out at the United Kingdom now suggesting natural immunity to COVID-19 could be - could be -
lost within months.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Research shows that antibody responses begin to decline 20 to 30 days after a person first shows coronavirus symptoms. And this is
important, isn't it, because for so long, as we've been reporting on this story as we have, sadly, all of us, it seems, come across people, whether
it's friends, family or your extended sort of circle who have had the virus.
One of the things that we've been saying to ourselves is, well, at least if you've had the virus, you've had these antibodies and you wouldn't get it
again. Well, has that changed? CNN Reporter Jacqueline Howard joining us from Atlanta with more on this. Is this study, then, Jacqueline, telling us
that you can suddenly get re-infected with the coronavirus?
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Becky, that's certainly what the study suggests? Now, the study was done on 65 patients who were confirmed
to have COVID, and 31 health care workers who got antibody tests done regularly between March and June.
And like you said, the study found that within months after patients first started showing symptoms the magnitude of their antibody response appeared
to decline. Now, there are two other factors we have to keep in mind here when it comes to immunity.
Number one, the study also found that depending on how severe your COVID illness was that's associated with the magnitude of your antibody response.
So the more sick you are with COVID, the higher the magnitude of antibody response. That's number one.
And then number two, outside of antibodies, we also have what are called immunological memory cells those are memory immune cells so if you do get
re-infected, those cells remember, oh, we've seen this infection before, and they kind of rub up into high gear and so your illness could be less
severe than otherwise.
So those are two other factors to keep in mind. But overall the study certainly is adding to the body of evidence we have around the possibility
of getting re-infected.
ANDERSON: Yes, and what does this new study mean for a vaccine?
HOWARD: You know, this could mean many things. Number one, what this could mean for a vaccine is that the vaccine will have to have a higher magnitude
of antibody response than what we're seeing naturally. Because if naturally the response appears to wane over time, then the vaccine will have to have
a higher magnitude so it doesn't do that.
So that's one possibility or what this could mean is we might need booster shots which is kind of what we see already with measles vaccines, for
instance. So we might just need a booster shot with this vaccine. Or another option might be that we might just have to get the vaccine every
year, kind of like what we see with the flu shot.
So there are a lot of different options and factors that vaccine developers are really going to really have to keep in mind and consider as we gather
more evidence around antibody response.
ANDERSON: Let's talk about the development of a vaccine. Where are we at this point? I know there are several in developments around the world. Are
we getting any closer to having one?
HOWARD: Yes, well, you're right, Becky, there are several. The latest number from the World Health Organization is that there are 21 vaccine
candidates globally in clinical evaluation. Here in the United States the aim is still to have a vaccine by the end of the year.
We are seeing some preliminary data showing that so far development is looking promising, but we really have to wait and see, you know, whether we
can reach that end of the year goal.
ANDERSON: All right. Thank you very much, indeed, for joining us. Fascinating new study out of the UK suggesting natural immunity to COVID
could be lost within months and more there on where we stand with regard to the possibility of a vaccine.
While the pandemic rages in the U.S. and other parts of the world, two officials from the World Health Organization have just arrived in the
presumed birthplace of COVID-19: China. A head of the W.H.O. says the advance team will lay the groundwork of a larger mission and discovering
just how the virus jumped from animals to humans?
It will likely expand beyond China, and according to another official, take some time to complete. David Culver is joining me now from Beijing. What is
it this team is looking for, and has China been entirely open to the prospect of this team being on the ground?
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, China would point to the fact that they have arrived to their openness. They are here. However, one of the
things that we have been trying to find out, Becky, over the past several weeks or so is what exactly they will be doing here upon arrival? This has
been labeled as a preliminary advance team.
[11:10:00]
CULVER: The W.H.O. has been a bit vague as to what their role will be here, but I was just listening in on a press conference that's actually underway
right now involving the W.H.O., and they gave a bit more detail, in fact, the most detail we've had so far.
They said this is essentially a listening and learning, and this may not really even involve a lot of fieldwork. That these two individuals one
being an epidemiologist, the other being an animal health expert, will likely just be meeting with Chinese scientists to understand what has
already been discovered and then to learn a little bit what still needs to be learned.
To understand that would then be to figure out what other experts could then come in with a larger group field team likely from the W.H.O. and
multiple countries involved in later weeks and months. Here's what's interesting, though.
I was wondering where this team was going first. We know that they're here in Beijing. You figure they might go to Wuhan, the original epicenter of
this outbreak. I'm hearing as of now the W.H.O. saying this at this news conference they're in quarantine.
So if that's the case and they're following the rules that China has in place, they'll likely be there for another couple of weeks or so. It's a
14-day quarantine that is now in place, and that means they're working remotely, according to the W.H.O., Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, interesting. I just had somebody commenting on Instagram the W.H.O. team is going a little too late, aren't they? Need to be more
proactive a comment of one of our viewers. We've been seeing scenes of incredible devastation, flooding. David, tell us more about that.
CULVER: Here's what's interesting, because one of the questions we were asking the W.H.O. is are you going to go to Wuhan, as I mentioned the
original epicenter? What's happening right now in Central China is quite devastating to be honest, Becky.
I mean, it's widespread flooding, historic in some places, and it's causing as of now a lot of attention here on domestic state media to be focused on
that region, some 37 million people impacted, and now they're saying they're sending in more resources and more deployment of troops to help
with this.
China's government mobilizing into what one official calls wartime mode splitting its efforts between containing the novel coronavirus to now
stopping widespread flooding it's already proving devastating and deadly. Heavy downpours in recent weeks have left multiple parts of the country
submerged.
Officials say the rising waters are surging through roughly 27 provinces, cities and regions, impacting more than 37 million people, forcing about 2
million residents out of their homes. At least 141 people are missing or presumed dead.
This man telling local media, it is my responsibility, and it's everyone's responsibility to work to contain the floods from further spreading. The
hardest hit areas are along the Yangtze, Asia's longest river. It flows east through cities like Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus
outbreak.
The bussing metropolis first paralyzed this year by the brutal 76 day lockdown. Now it sits soaked by relentless rains. In Eastern China's -
province, officials have raised the emergency response for flood control to its highest level.
Lakes and rivers are passing record depths both state and social media capturing the many images of destruction and despair multiple rescue
efforts now underway from crews carrying a newborn to safety to offering their backs to an elderly man unable to wade through the currents alone and
the search for survivors happening late into the night.
For those who make it to dry land, humanitarian teams setting up shelters and dishing out meals. Currently we have planned three relocation sites,
this volunteer explains, adding, what you're looking at right now is a classroom in a primary school.
We can house up to 240 people in this school. But notice in this age of COVID-19, very few here are wearing face masks. Instead they're focused on
the immediate threat that officials say have already destroyed some 28,000 homes.
The harsh currents have carved out a portion of roadways, isolating residents and forcing urgent repairs from above in places where the
flooding has yet to recede, a web of muddy waters mark city streets. China's central governmental locating some $165 million to disaster relief,
but they warn the damage already done is nearing $12 billion.
For the second time in a matter of months, life in Central China brought to a halt, first battered by the virus, now wrecked by raging floodwaters. You
can't help but think, Becky, about two different things, the first being the coronavirus outbreak. China was touting themselves as keeping things
under control.
[11:15:00]
CULVER: But now as you saw on those images you see people they're shoulder to shoulder, they're close together. They're focused on physically
surviving these roughened waters, but you have to wonder is the virus going to fester in that and continue to spread? I mean, a lot of folks not
wearing masks in those regions because it's not really their focus right now. And more rain, by the way, is in the forecast.
ANDERSON: --understandably incredible scenes. David, thank you. Before you go, my team tells me that you stayed extra late for us to come on the show,
well past 11:00 pm your time after what was a long, grueling day, so thank you. I know the viewers appreciate it. Go get some rest and see you next
time. Thank you.
CULVER: Just to spend some time with you, Becky, it's worth it.
ANDERSON: He's a charmer, isn't he? Thank you, David. Protests break out in Beirut. This as an economic collapse in Lebanon has pushed the country's
citizens to the brink. What's behind the tailspin and what is being done about it? That is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The International Monetary Fund calls an economic outlook in the Middle East and Central Asia bleak. The IMF has revised downward its growth
projections for the kind of wider region, economists playing the one, two punch of the global coronavirus pandemic and plummeting oil prices.
With the whole region, which includes around 30 countries, the economy is expected to shrink more than 4 percent, with oil exporters in Persian Gulf
countries taking the biggest hit. We're going to get you to two countries that would normally well, they couldn't be more different.
Lebanon and Israel I want to take a look at the economic picture there. Lebanon has already been dealing with a financial meltdown along with angry
anti-government protests that have been going on now for months. And coronavirus has only made the situation there worse as scenes of
desperation play out daily now across the country.
Unemployment and poverty are on the rise since the lockdown early this year. The World Bank projected that at least half the country would become
poor. Ben Wedeman joining us now from Beirut with the details, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. That World Bank projection actually preceded the coronavirus outbreak, and many
analysts here think that the living standards of the majority of people here in Lebanon will continue to fall with the coronavirus outbreak, and
that simply the bottom, rock bottom, is just not in sight yet.
[11:20:00]
WEDEMAN: Protesters outside Lebanon state electricity company light candles and curse the darkness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Today, how many hours of electricity have you had today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four hours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Flowers mark the spot where 61-year-old Ali Mohamed Haq shot and killed himself, apparently in desperation, as Lebanon's economy goes into a
tailspin. My people are hungry, chants this man at a demonstration that gathered around Ali killed himself on Beirut's fashionable Hamra Street.
Others have taken a more violent approach to express their anger at plummeting living standards. Economist Dima Kraim is following Lebanon's so
far fruitless negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout.
In October last year nationwide protests erupted as Lebanon's banking sector began to fall apart. It was based on what an economist called a
"Ponzi Scheme" whereby Lebanese banks offered sky high interest rates to mostly Lebanese depositors and then used those depositors to finance
balloon government's deficits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIMA KRAIM, ECONOMIST: It's a collapse of a whole model. It's a collapse of a model that has accumulated losses for three decades, and right now the
majority is bearing the brunt of this collapse as opposed to the 1 percent that has made use and has made infinite amounts of dollars out of this
system.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: In recent months, prices and unemployment have skyrocketed. The currency, the lira, has lost much of its value. All day I've been working
and I've only earned 9,000 lira, says this taxi driver. On this day that was only about $1. A year ago it was 6.
Butchers can't make ends meet. I may close down, he says. There are no sales. Everything, he says, from the plastic bags to the paper he wraps the
meat in has become expensive. Across Beirut, stores have shuttered. No business, no power, no hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two years ago we had more than 24 hours a day. That was very brutal on us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Keeping the lights on at Beirut's main state hospital is just one thing that keeps director Dr. Firas Abaid up at night. COVID-19 cases are
mounting here while resources evaporate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIRAS ABAID, DIRECTOR & CEO, RAFIK HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: If the situation gets more difficult and the appearances are at the moment is that
it might become more difficult, whether we will be able to keep finding solutions. And my answer at this moment is I do not know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: For those who have reached rock bottom, the dumpster is the last refuse. Lebanon, no one has answers. Now, in the past, Becky, Lebanon could
depend on help from the Gulf, from the west, from France, the United States. But at the moment it appears that these talks with the IMF are
stalled, that no one is coming to Lebanon to rescue. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is in Beirut for you. Ben, thank you. Well, Israel also facing economic strain as the pandemic increases pressure on the
government there for more economic aid. A new poll from Israel's Channel 13 points to growing dissatisfaction.
Now, at this point, 75 percent, three-quarters of Israelis are unhappy with the government's handling of the pandemic. 61 percent, two-thirds, are
displeased with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response. And more than four-fifths, 83 percent of the population, now fear for their financial
future. Let's get the latest from CNN's Oren Lieberman who is in Jerusalem. Oren?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, that's only part of the bad news that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the past few months was
expecting ways to - Netanyahu, was looking for some excuse to change the election because he has held a dominated lead in the polls.
As discontent with his handling of the coronavirus has evaporated and has sunk, so his numbers in the polls and now at least two separate polls he
holds a race to majority of elections were held today, and elections of course are always a topic of conversation in Israel.
[11:25:00]
LIEBERMANN: The bigger risk is that the numbers will continue to slide for Netanyahu. On the streets of Tel Aviv, the numbers are going up. First
there's the numbers of protesters. Police say more than 10,000 people filled the square to demonstrate against the government's handling of the
coronavirus crisis, demanding economic aid they held signs that read economic war and free the money.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YIGAL SHILOAH, PROTESTER: I don't feel they are doing enough to support us. We need our savings. We don't get any money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: Then there's unemployment which hit 21 percent this week, according to the Israel Unemployment Service. Over the weekend, 1,250
citizens returned to work, but more than twice that number filed for unemployment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAAYAN ELIASI, PROTESTER: I can't train, I can't prep, I can't work, I can't get money from the country. My clients can come and train and I've
had enough of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: And there is coronavirus which is surged to record numbers of new cases a day. Israel is struggling to contain in July what it thought it
had under control in May. The numbers have all put pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who promised up to $2,170, and soon, to
unemployed and business owners who qualified.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISREALI PRIME MINISTER: This support, this crowd is not dependent on legislation and we order that we're been - ready today. The
button will be pressed so the money will arrive in accounts in the next few days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: One number that is falling, Netanyahu's approval rating in the handling of the coronavirus crisis from 74 percent in May to 46 percent
now. Last week Netanyahu held a Zoom call with business owners trying to placate their fears. Instead he became the target of their anger.
My husband and I, we don't know what to do? How are we going to live? This woman tells the Prime Minister. We never got anything in the first round
and second round. There's nothing that we can do. We need a serious solution.
Politically, Israel's longest serving Prime Minister faces no real threat from the right or the left, but he has to contend with the second wave of
coronavirus on a tide of economic hardship. As Netanyahu's numbers have slipped, who have benefited here, well, his two aspiring rivals. On the
right in the opposition it would be Tyler Bennett, on the left it would be Lemire Lapede and they took every opportunity to attack.
How bad are Israel's coronavirus numbers at this point back in mid-May, when it looked like Israel had essentially won its fight against
coronavirus, there were about 25 new cases a day for a solid week?
Over the last seven days it's been more than 15 fold increase from those numbers, more than 1,000 new cases a day on average over the last week. And
those numbers, Becky, are not going in the right direction.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Oren always a pleasure thank you sir, Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem for you. While you are watching "Connect the
World" still to come the conflict in Yemen is impacting the treatment and support of those affected by COVID-19.
Coming up, we speak to the Director of the International British Red Cross and 1000 marched in Russia while two high profile arrests, some protesters
calling for President Putin's resignation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching "Connect the World" with me, Becky Anderson. We're live for you on our seventh hour of Middle East
Broadcasting Hub here in Abu Dhabi. The World Health Organization is pointing out that just two countries accounted for more than half of the
new COVID-19 cases around the world on Sunday, and of the 230,000 cases that were reported to the W.H.O., almost 80 percent came from just 10
countries and 50 percent from just two countries.
The countries were not named Johns Hopkins University tally of cases shows that U.S., India and Brazil accounted for more than 112,000 cases. That was
on Sunday. Well, Yemen is one of the world's poorest countries, and it is, quite frankly, straining to deal with COVID-19.
The British Red Cross estimates the fatality rate from the virus is 26 percent. That means more than one in four people who contract the virus in
Yemen will die. Only half of the health facilities are functioning and they are lacking basic equipment like masks and gloves, let alone the oxygen and
other essentials to treat the very worse of the virus.
Let's bring in Alexander Matheou. He is the Executive Director for International British Red Cross. He joins me live from London. Your
colleagues are on the ground, sadly a number of your colleagues have lost their lives in Yemen over the past couple of years. What is it that your
colleagues can specifically tell us about just how challenged the place is at this point?
ALEXANDER MATHEOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL, BRITISH RED CROSS: Well, the crisis in Yemen is not just about the crisis of COVID-19, it's
the challenge of COVID-19 meeting a multitude of other crises, many of which actually predate the conflict. So already it was one of the most
water scarce countries in the world.
Half the population lived on less than $2 a day. Then you have five years of conflict which you correctly say basically it means that half of the
health structure is no longer functioning, many of the roads and bridges are damaged, you can't move around the country in the way you could before.
People have lost their jobs or they haven't been paid for four or five years including doctors, nurses and engineers, which mean you don't have
access to clean drinking water. The combination of those factors is what makes COVID-19 so dangerous for Yemen.
ANDERSON: Yes. And of those who contract the virus, one in four die. That is a number that is horrifying. Should not be allowed anywhere in the
world. This COVID-19 is bad enough, but statistics like that are just awful.
The United Nations Humanitarian Chief has warned that Yemen might, "Fall off the cliff without massive financial support". And he says rising
coronavirus cases just add to the existing problems of what is this war- torn country, echoing what you have just explained. What is your message today?
MATHEOU: A number of things need to happen. First there needs to be Emergency Humanitarian Aid in Yemen, food, medical supplies and equipment
for hospitals and medical centers. That is number one.
Two, the ports need to facilitate that. 70 percent of imports in Yemen go to the single port - data. It's only functioning under 50 percent. You need
to make sure these ports able to bring in the essential medical supplies.
You need to built access to the parts of the country most in need. It's a mountainous country. As I said before, many of the roads and bridges are
destroyed. It's also run by different factions and all of them need to give access to neutral and impartial organizations like the International
Institute Committee of the Red Cross or Yemeni Red Cross.
Four, and this might sound controversial, you need to pay the doctors, nurses and water engineers. They haven't been paid for four or five years,
and unless they're being paid, these critical systems will not function.
Five, I would say that every party into the conflict needs to adhere to international humanitarian law and make sure that medical facilities are
not targeted and make sure that civilians and non-COVID people are protected.
Ultimately, Becky, you need a political solution for a durable peace. But those first five things that will facilitate humanitarian aid and
humanitarian access, they are critical.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: That was interesting, because as you listed those, I'm listening to them and thinking to myself, we are quite far removed from actually
getting any of what you have just suggested done, and that is, you know, Yemen, the crux of the Yemeni problem, isn't it?
That - the virtual pledging conference, I think there were some 31 donors over a billion in pledges. It's something like half what's needed. What do
you think it is that as much as the international community appears to try hard on occasion to get Yemen back into the headlines and to get some
financial support for the place, it just doesn't seem to happen?
MATHEOU: I suppose there may be multiple reasons for that. It might not be everybody's priority. But I would say that when I was there last year, over
10 million people were receiving essential food assistance each month. That's a huge operation.
It is not enough, I mean, there were 6.5 million people who were desperately in need of assistance and not getting it. So I don't want to
say that's a good situation, but it is worse at the moment.
ANDERSON: Sure.
MATHEOU: So the world program is reducing its food rations when we actually need more. The World Health Organization is reducing the amount of money it
can pay for doctors and nurses just as we need more.
So the fact it's reducing at this time is really quite tragic. So I suppose I would just urge everybody to recognize that is the world's biggest
humanitarian crisis lives depend on humanitarian assistance. As many crisis in the world Becky, but there are only a few where people will die if
assistance doesn't come in urgently. This is one of them. So I really hope that it will be prioritized.
ANDERSON: You're making your point very, very clear today. I mean, I think it was more local but again pointing out that so many of those who live in
the country rely on remittances from elsewhere, and those remittances, that's physical cash that people can actually use in the country have sort
of dried up during COVID.
Once again, it's this sort of COVID overarching sort of story which seems to have provided such a double whammy to so many places that were already
struggling.
MATHEOU: Yes, I think it's probably a triple whammy. It's the existing crisis. It's the crises that have been exhaustipated by COVID-19. And you
mentioned a critical one for Yemen remittances are down by 80 percent.
And given high levels of unemployment, many state civil servants are not being paid. Remittances were in absolute lifeline plus, actually to make it
even worse in Yemen. They make the main revenue for the country - it was also not bringing in the revenues it was. So that's a sort of consequence
of the pandemic, and then you've got the virus itself. So it's like three things hitting at once.
ANDERSON: With that we're going to leave it there. The view is I've heard you, I hope the world is listening. This is a story that we will not allow
to go away and get hidden once more. Thank you. I'll get you up to speed on another big story here in the Middle East for very different reasons.
Pope Francis says he is very saddened by Turkey's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. The pontiff was speaking at his weekly
prayer, and the iconic Byzantine Era building, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the museum since 1934.
UNESCO and others have expressed outrage over the decision, the building constructed as a Christian Cathedral in the sixth century. In the 15th
century, it became a mosque. Mr. Erdogan trying to reassure the world its doors will stay open to everyone.
Tune in Wednesday we will be speaking with the Turkish President's right hand man Chief Advisor Ibrahim Kalin about the Hagia Sophia controversy and
an awful lot more. Lots of excitements here this week join us for that.
All right, coming up, the coronavirus isn't the only crisis South Africa is battling with. We'll hear from one family suffering the country's second
pandemic. That is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: In South Africa, the coronavirus pandemic is reaching new highs. South Africa has the ninth largest coronavirus outbreak in the world and is
recording more than 12,000 cases per day. But coronavirus isn't the only crisis facing the country.
Violence against women has surged in the last year alone. More than 3,000 women were murdered and nearly 180,000 violent crimes against women were
reported, and those were, of course, the reported cases. CNN's David McKenzie now for you from Johannesburg, David?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Becky. Those numbers you just mentioned are just staggering if you consider just all of those
individual lives shattered women's lives, children's lives, grandparents all the victims of sexual violence, of violence against women of - in this
country.
The President called it the dual pandemic that South Africa is struggling with. Now just in the last 24 hours the government has banned alcohol again
to try to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now one group of people that have certainly cheered that are gender rights activists.
They say when they unbanned alcohol last time they saw a surge in cases. We met a family who is struggling with grief and loss and just trying to
contemplate this war on women.
In this corner between the corrugated iron and concrete, neighbors found her granddaughter's body when the smell became stronger in the stench of
the garbage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAVIS GABADA, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I thought, what's going on? I thought it was an animal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: He, the suspected killer, was her granddaughter's boyfriend. And weeks ago when the police came to this shack, his shack, they didn't find
her purse just feet away from where she was dumped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: What does this tell you?
GABADA: This tells us that they're not doing their job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: The police didn't respond to requests for comment and the prosecuting authority dropped the case against - Gabada's suspected killer
for lack of evidence, only taking it up again, the lead prosecutor told us, because of the public outcry. He is now in custody, formally charged with
murder and awaiting trial. He has yet to plea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDA GABADA, VICTIM'S SISTER: I think police must make their job very carefully this day because we must need to walk - because we don't know if
we're going to meet with someone or danger guy you don't know. So we're not safe. Justice must be served. We need them to punish that guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: In June, South Africa's President said the country is battling what he calls two pandemics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: Violence is being unleashed on the women and children of our country with a brutality that defies any form
of comprehension.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: On an incomprehensible scale there were nearly 180,000 violent crimes against women just last year, nearly 3,000 murders, according to
official police statistics.
[11:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This community calls for much-needed radical change with the urgency it deserves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: But after decades of protests and promises of action, change hasn't come. Daughters, mothers and sisters are still lost. And far too
often, say gender rights activities justice is delayed if it comes at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Is the state doing enough?
MANDISA MONAKALI, ACTIVIST, LLITHA LABANTHU: Not at all. I don't think they're serious about it. If they could deal with GBV, gender-based
violence exactly is the way they're COVID-19 would be fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Organization took on more than a dozen cases of gender based violence in just the last week. They've supported victims from age two too
well into their 70s.
(BEGIN VIDOE CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it seems like there is almost a war on women in South Africa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you say that again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, because it's not safe. We go outside with fear the one who has done my sister who looks at me or my children.
MCKENZIE: I know that this is still so raw for you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Still difficult for her to find the words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: But she says it's important to - killing won't be ignored.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's why--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, you know the Gabadas let us into their home to hear their awful story. They are still seeking justice in that case like so many other
women in this country that aren't seeing it. Activists, say, Becky, that one of the key issues is really that on-the-ground issues, nuts and bolts,
investigations, police not taking rape victims seriously, prosecutors not necessarily following through with cases when should, and they just haven't
seen the change.
That activist that we interviewed, she left an abusive relationship 30 years ago and started this NGO and now she's here 30 years later still
dealing with these problems and saying they've just become normalized in this society. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, it's so hard to listen to and so hard to watch, but it is essential reporting. Thank you, David. We'll be right back folks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Fans of English Premier League giants Manchester City will be breathing a major sigh of relief today, Monday, after finding
out their club will, in fact, play in next season's Champions League. We're joined by World Sport Patrick Snell. And as I said Patrick, a great day,
for City and their fans a terrible day it has to be said, for UEFA?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: Yes, no question Becky. Thank you so much. I will say, this though, City supporters you know, this is the news they
wanted to hear. Their club was facing a two ban from the prestigious UEFA Champions League an unthinkable prospect to a club of their desires and
ambitions.
Remember, City who would always deny any wrong doing, but originally punished by European football's governing body UEFA. Later these serious
breaches of club licensing and financial fair play regulations. City appealed and the ban on Monday was overturn.
[11:50:00]
SNELL: Now on a statement Manchester City saying the club welcomes the implications of today's ruling as a validation of a club's position and the
body of evidence that it was able to present, the club wishes to thank the panel members for their due diligence and the due process that they
administered.
Meantime, UEFA saying it had noted the cast panel found there was insufficient conclusive evidence to uphold all these CFCBs conclusions in
this specific case and that many of the alleged breaches were time barred due to the five-year time period foreseen in the UEFA regulations and we'll
stay across all the key developments.
Now once again, it is the ugly stain of racism in football after it emerged two Premier League players Sheffield United's David McGoldrick, Crystal
Palace and Wilfried Zaha have suffered racist abuse online. And now one Premier League star is telling us he finds online racism worse than racist
incidents actually inside stadium.
The Watford defender Christian Kabasele saying that while all forms are reprehensible sending monkey and banana emojis to players on social media
means that somebody has taken the time to think about their message before sending it. Well, Kabasele spoke to World Sport Contributor Darren Lewis
back in March about the racism he has experienced and why he says social media platforms have failed to deal with incidents he has reported in the
past.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIAN KABASELE, WATFORD DEFENDER: When you're on stadium sometimes - the fact that you are put down by other person, you just disconnect your
brain and you do something stupid that when you write something on Twitter, you have time to think about what you are doing, and it's worse than
something happen in a stadium.
DARREN LEWIS, CNN WORLD SPORT CONTRIBUTOR: Now I know that you reported, when you received the abuse, and you were quite shocked by the response.
Just talk us through that.
KABASELE: Yes. So I was abused in Belgium during a game, and after I went to my Instagram and I took a monkey picture, and I put next to - a picture
of myself, and I was asking am I looking as the same as the monkey?
And I think the day after, Instagram deleted my post and just said that I broke the rules of Instagram that I was violent and I was spreading out
cities - spreading violence and the message on my Instagram.
So I should stop it. That's quite unbelievable, because when I was abused again on Instagram, I reported the message that I received and after a day
of investigation they found out that there was no violence message against me or - break rules so it's quite amazing how you can have two kinds of
reaction about this?
It's unbelievable. It's difficult to understand and believe, but it didn't happen only once, several times because that day I received a lot of
message, and I reported maybe for three or four of them. They said no violence in the account that you reported.
LEWIS: Where do we go? What do we do with this? I can't see a situation where this is going to stop people or allowed to do all sorts of things on
social media?
KABASELE: Yes, but I think the first step, maybe, is to obligate every person who is on Instagram, Twitter all those kinds of things do to use
their ID. The system follows that. You put all the details of your ID on Instagram, like this doing something bad. We know who is behind this kind
of thing and maybe it will make people think twice before making things like this. Maybe that's the first step, I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Well, Darren Lewis joining me now. Darren, I mentioned also there the - incidents involving McGoldrick. Just how timely is your interview
that, a powerful interview you had with Christian and the statements it's been making as well?
[11:55:00]
LEWIS: Yes, we've done that interview before the lockdown, Patrick, and all of the issues that he raises in that interview are all relevant now that
we've had the news today that the Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha and the Sheffield United's striker David McGoldrick who both received racist,
let's not call them offensive, they're racists messages on social media, on Instagram.
Now I want to read you something from Instagram. It's on their twitter feed which has 35.3 million followers says this. We started to get racism in all
its forms. We started in solidarity with the black community. Real change comes through action that's the pinned tweet on Instagram's twitter feed
with 35 million followers.
Now if that's the case, why is it that so many footballers and people - are failing to get them to say look, if there is racially offensive material on
your twitter feed you will be removed. We will take action. Why is it taking Patrick, taking so long for footballers to get the kind of address
that they're asking for because that would have - undermine Instagram's message.
SNELL: Yes, yes, you make an excellent point. And question so many out there that still need to be answered. But I want to kind of top into that
and elaborate some more developing what we saw over weekend regarding Zaha and McGoldrick as well. Generally speaking and elaborating Darren, what did
you make of the response we saw in the hour that ensued to the abuse they received?
LEWIS: Well, the response we saw was always get, the cops were supportive and the football community was very supportive, but the players has a
resignation just like you have from sports stars in the U.S. and just like you have from sports stars all around the world.
David McGoldrick he tweeted 2020 and this is life, and that's the reality, if you're black and you're a footballer, if you're a sport star, if you
perform around the world, you are likely to get that kind of abuse.
You can post all of the black squares, you can kneel, you can wear badges and all those gestures of solidarity that you like. But if you can't take
action when black people say, protect us from the abuse we're suffering when we go to work then none of it matters.
SNELL: Yes. Darren, thank you very much for joining us, really important we stay across this every step of the way. Becky, I'm going to send it back to
you. I want to tell our viewers that on Tuesday we will bring you part 2 of Darren's interview with Kabasele, recounting the abuse he suffered during
his - particularly in Eastern Europe. Back to you there Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, thank you very much, indeed. And it is great to be back. We covered some essential stories for you this hour. That story of course Man
City one of them for sure it matters and as America's catastrophic response to COVID. But spare a thought for Yemen.
We heard that the mortality rate there as high as 25 percent with COVID. Imagine that you catch a virus, highly contagious and you have a one in
four chance of dying is like playing Russian - it appalling.
We're in Lebanon where the county could finally be running out of luck falling of its own financial cliff that would be disaster for the entire
region and contrast to other responses from countries well-equipped to handle it like here in the UAE and Gulf states. Not just a matter of money.
It can't buy you way to safety.
Jordan a poor countries, also managed to keep its outbreak under control. Even with all of this going on right here the Emirates preparing to the
roam the solar system. This is a complex nuanced region. It's a complex world and we'll be connecting all of it for you. I'm Becky Anderson. For
the time being, it's a very, very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
