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Dozen Killed In Church At Israel Religious Festival; Ninth Straight Day of 300,000 New Cases As Thousands Line Up In Desperate Search Of Oxygen; ICU Chief to CNN: Conditions "Nothing Short Of An Apocalypse"; Streets In Turkey Deserted With Lockdown Underway; U.S. Troop Withdrawal Officially Underway; Beating The Blues On A Bike. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 30, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Atlanta. This is "Connect the World".
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: Welcome to the program. I'm Lynda Kinkade filling in for my colleague Becky Anderson. Good to have you with us. We begin in
Israel where victims of being identified and buried following that overnight crash at a religious festival. 45 people were killed at least 150
injured. And the aftermath is just unbelievable.
The festival do tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews, the largest such crowds since the start of the pandemic, the crash happening on a ramp packed with
festival goers who were there for a night of celebration. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYIM COHEN, WITNESS TO ISRAEL CRUSH TRAGEDY: I was there exactly when it happened down there on the side. It started when a few paramedics started
to run. And then there was some kind of mess, Police screaming a big mess. And after half an hour, it looked like a scene of a suicide bombing attacks
numerous people coming out from their own stretchers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows that there will be a thorough investigation. He's called for a National Day of Mourning to be
observed on Sunday. Well, Israel is now moving into the Sabbath in shock and in grief. Journalist Elliot Gotkine is at the morgue where the victims
were taken. And Elliot, I understand children are among those victims.
ELLIOT GOTKINE, JOURNALIST: That is understanding as well there all the bodies from the crush last night were brought here to Israel's Institute of
Forensic Medicine. And there have been people who have been inside the building to try and see if they can identify among the dead friends loved
ones or members of their own family.
As you say the death toll stands at 45. The number of injured considerably higher. But most of those the Health Ministry says were a result of
suffering broken bones, so they were treated and sent home. But we understand there are still around 20 people who are critically ill in
hospital. And so that death toll of 45 could yet raise higher still, Lynda?
KINKADE: And of course, Elliot, this is the largest annual event in Israel. And the numbers weren't as high as what we've seen in previous years. Did
authorities plan to fail for the sort of crowds that we saw?
GOTKINE: Well, in the run up to this event, one of the biggest concerns was that it could turn into a kind of Coronavirus, super spreader event. Yes,
more than half the population in Israel is vaccinated. And yes, restrictions have been dramatically relaxed.
But still, when you have that many people, among them, presumably some who aren't vaccinated, then there's always going to be a danger, especially
because there's no opportunity for social distancing. In terms of regulations, it's a bit unclear as to exactly who gave the go ahead, or how
because although we have seen some kind of return to normality, for example, with football matches, soccer matches taking place with thousands
of people in the stands have been nothing on this scale.
And the remarkable thing, of course, is that as tragic as this has been in previous years in the same location, there have been many more thousands of
people there. And mercifully nothing like this had happened before. But of course, that'll be one of the big questions that the investigation will
look at, which is how this was allowed to go ahead, and who was responsible? And how can they ensure that it never ever happens again?
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. I'm just wondering, because you did mention that half the population in Israel has been vaccinated? Was there a feeling
there that people just finally wanted to get together like this, despite the risks?
GOTKINE: Well, certainly, once restrictions were relaxed, you know the bars and restaurants and cafes, in Tel Aviv, and across the country have been
absolutely heaving. You know, it's very hard to get tables everyone wants to go out and enjoy their kind of newfound freedom in terms of this event.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not quite sure if it would have made much of a difference in terms of the full relaxation of COVID. This is a significant
joyous festival to venerate the tomb of a second century sage and mystic, and it is always, you know, very, very well attended, as we saw just not
just last night, but in previous years as well.
So perhaps there was an element of yes, they can finally let loose. But as I say, you know, restrictions were dramatically scaled back a number of
weeks ago. And so there's already there's been this kind of sense of freedom that people have been able to return to normality, and go back to
their normal lives. And this, I guess, is just the combination of that, unfortunately, of course, resulting in this tragedy that we're witnessing
now.
KINKADE: Alright, Elliot Gotkine. We will speak to you again soon about this tragedy. We're going to stay on it for now. Thank you very much. With
Magen David Adom Emergency Services which is the equivalent of a Red Cross treated the injured on site.
[11:05:00]
KINKADE: And Yonaton Yagodovsky is one of its Directors, he joins us now live. This was meant to be a night of prayer of celebration to honor an
ancient rabbi. Your team deals with emergencies all the time. Have you ever seen something like this on this scale during peacetime?
YONATON YAGODOVSKY, INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MAGEN DAVID ADOM: Needless to say his tragedy was a very difficult event to control and to
deal with, even though we had our share of experience over the years, and we were encountered in a large variety of multiple casualty incidents all
over the country, whether its war related, terror attacks, et cetera.
But that was a very, very difficult situation. And needless to say that today, the tragedy is that 45 people did not survive. People that came to
celebrate with our families and with our friends and can't make it home now.
KINKADE: You have teams of ambulances, intensive care vehicles, clinics at this event, every year. What was different about this year? I mean, were
authorities given the pandemic underprepared for this sort of a turnout.
YAGODOVSKY: No. We were well prepared even that morning. Yesterday morning, we did an exercise with the other authorities that were at the scene,
simulating a variety of scenarios, including multiple casualty incidents, we are highly preferred, and all the regulations were implemented.
Once the event happened and the tragedy happened, we immediately activated our protocols. We had a very large team of paramedics, EMTs, and ambulances
on site that they started even on Wednesday, and we accumulated more and more teams and people and utilities, including technological utilities in
on Thursday morning.
We were there; we were ready to any given scenario, hoping that nothing will happen. And unfortunately, this tragedy happened last night.
KINKADE: And among the dead are children, 45 people there but there are dozens injured, explain the sorts of injuries that you and your team were
treating.
YAGODOVSKY: People first crashed inside the crowd; it was some kind of call it a human avalanche. People were walking down from the site in a paved
way, going down the stairs, and though it was became to be too crowded, and to call, people in the front began to fall down, and others kept on them,
causing orthopedic injuries, head injuries, chest injuries, internal bleeding, to the severely injured.
And it's an experience that unfortunately, we have experienced but it was many, many years ago in a completely different situation. But people had to
receive most of them intensive care treatment, which was provided by paramedics and EMTs on site.
And then we evacuated them to the nearby hospital and two other hospitals in the northern parts of Israel, including by our helicopters and also the
IDF helicopters. We even take - took a patient. A patient was brought even to Jerusalem which is relatively far towards to the Hadassah hospital.
Our overall operational strategy is to as much as possible spread patients between different hospitals, if they are a relatively in the area in order
to reduce the pressure on one hospital in order to provide definite care to the patients in the hospital.
KINKADE: And for those who spoke to about how this unfolded, you said some people may have fallen and were crushed. Was there ever a stage where it
turned into a stampede just to explain what people told you?
YAGODOVSKY: Yes, exactly. That turns out to - that was really crowded. You can see from the videos that were taken. And for some reason trip, some
people trapped inside the crowds. And all of a sudden, this tragedy happened and you all see the results of that.
[11:10:00]
KINKADE: There is an investigation by the attorney general that's going to look at how prepared authorities were you said, you felt prepared you felt
that authorities there had everything under control. What do you think they're going to look at when it comes to this investigation? What could
have been done to prevent this?
YAGODOVSKY: Well, I don't know exactly what they will be checking, but I'm sure they will be checking the deployment arrangements of the governing
bodies of that event. Also how the crowd has behaved during the event. And it's not the first time it's been going on, as you have mentioned, year
after year.
And every now and then people are not feeling well. Kids have been getting lost. These are needs to treat patients but to reach this type of a
situation is something that we were planning to, but hoped all the time that it will never happen.
KINKADE: All right. We hope that too. Yonaton Yagodovsky we appreciate your time today. Thank you.
YAGODOVSKY: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, let's take a closer look at how this tragedy unfolded? CNN's Hadas Gold went to the scene and she walks us through this night of chaos
and carnage.
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the site of what the Israeli Ambulance Service is calling one of the worst civil disasters in Israeli
history. What happened around 1 am, while tens of thousands of worshippers were here celebrating the Lag BaOmer holiday? Crowds of people were trying
to exit and enter along this ramp right here. And they started slipping and sliding all over each other it turned into a tangle of bodies.
Well, authorities are now saying 45 people were sadly killed more than 100 injured. The authorities still don't know exactly what caused the chaos of
that night? The police are investigating; the Police Commander for the Northern Region has already taken responsibility. Israeli Attorney General
has called for investigation.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a day of mourning because this event takes place every year and this is the first time that
such a tragedy has befallen the tens of thousands of workers who gathered here to celebrate the Lag BaOmer holiday to be close to the two of an
ancient Rabbi and what was supposed to be an evening of revelry of singing of dancing turned into evening tragic Hadas Gold, Mount Meron, Israel.
KINKADE: India's COVID crisis is getting worse with each passing day. Still ahead, the desperate search for oxygen on the streets of Delhi. And
Afghanistan faces an uncertain future as the official U.S. troop withdrawal begins we're going to look at what the future may hold there?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Children's photos still hang on the wall of this destroyed school. A broken lesson schedule listing Maths, English Science,
a symbol of a routine that's been shattered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADEL As fighting escalates in Myanmar, between the military and - CNN speaks exclusively to a Rebel Army Leader. We'll have that story just a
little later. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
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[11:15:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. The COVID calamity in India shows no signs of easing up the country setting global records for new daily cases almost every
single day during this second wave another 386,000 today in nine straight days over 300,000 cases. Conditions in the hottest hit cities are
increasingly desperate thousands of people lining up sometimes for hours hoping to get life saving oxygen for their stricken loved ones.
Hospitals full and a full and they're forcing to turn away patients. Listen to what the Head of a COVID Intensive Care Unit in New Delhi told CNN's
John Berman a little earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FARAH HUSAIN, HEAD OF COVID ICU UNIT, LOK NAYAK HOSPITAL: What we are seeing is nothing short of an apocalypse. We've had patients being rushed
in almost wards getting filled up overnight, 90 patients in less than 12 hours. And the problem with this virus is the second wave is extremely
contagious, extremely aggressive, and it is affecting the younger population in a significantly different way that we had not expected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Our Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward is in New Delhi India's hottest hit city. She witnessed the fear the anger the
heartbreak that so many of feeling right now and we must warn you that some of the images in her report are difficult to watch.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In Delhi now you're never far from heartbreak. Almost everyone in this city has been visited by
grief. At the Seemapuri crematorium the loss weighs heavily in the smoldering air and the dead are piling up.
There are bodies literally everywhere you turn here I've honestly never seen anything quite like it. And the organizers say that pre COVID they
might cremate seven or eight people a day. Today alone they've already created 55 bodies and it's not even lunchtime.
Just months ago, India's leadership boasted that the country had effectively defeated COVID. Now it has set global records for new cases as
a terrifying second wave ravages the country. - says he and his men don't even stop to take breaks and still they can barely cope with the flow of
volunteer approaches. They've run out of tables for the bodies, he says, then ads that his mother died from COVID the night before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARD: You must be tired?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Already, but the time is not for the rest?
WARD: Do you believe the government figures the death tolls the COVID figures that they're giving? Or do you think the real figures are much
higher?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll figure it up--
WARD (voice over): The numbers that you're seeing on television are the numbers of people who are dying in hospitals he says. They're not factoring
in the people who died at home in isolation. If those numbers are added the actual number will go up by three times.
To keep up with those mounting numbers, the crematorium has been forced to expand, creating an overflow area in a neighboring car park. Shaam Sharma
(ph) is saying goodbye to his 45 year old younger brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last night I was thinking that his health is improving. But suddenly, the phone of doctor came on my mobile phone that your brother
has expired.
WARD: Do you think his death could have been prevented?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. I think he can - we can save him with better health hospitals.
WARD (voice over): India's health care system is at a breaking point, unable to cope with the scale of the crisis. Its people left to fend for
themselves. This crowd has been waiting for six hours for the chance to get some oxygen. They can't rely on the state.
WARD: Who you are looking for Oxygen?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mother.
WARD: Your mother? How old is she?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 47.
WARD: Is her Oxygen very low?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is in very critical condition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 58 percent. And we are trying since morning we are not getting the Oxygen anywhere.
WARD: How many places have you been to?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 19.
WARD: 19?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since morning 16.
[11:20:00]
WARD: Have you tried taking her to the hospital?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are no beds.
WARD: There are no beds?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before three or four days we have tried so much but we didn't get any beds.
WARD (voice over): Priya Srivastava (ph) was lucky enough to find her mother a place in a hospital, only to find out there was no oxygen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Around ten days I have seen in front of my eyes. What should I do? And I'm so scared what is going to happen with my mom?
WARD: Are you angry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so angry because of this organization. Our government is so careless. They even don't care about what public is
suffering? They don't know what from - which suffering. There are so many people who are standing over there and fighting for this thing.
WARD (voice over): Her mother is now in critical condition. Like many here, she feels completely overwhelmed. For those who can't source their own
oxygen, this is the only option a drive in Oxygen Center by the side of the road. A woman arrives unconscious in a rickshaw. Several hospitals have
already turned her away.
They simply didn't have the beds. Now she is relying on the kindness of strangers. Her son works desperately to try to revive her. This isn't a
hospital or even a clinic. It's a Sikh Temple but for these people who've already been turned away from so many hospitals, this is their last chance
of survival.
The Leader of the Sikh Charity that runs this facility says it gets no support at all from the government. He says he already had COVID twice. But
he and his volunteers continue to work 24 hours a day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to save their lives. This is our hearts.
WARD: It must hurt your heart to see the way your people are suffering?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, madam. Many times we cry also what is going on?
WARD (voice over): It is impossible to escape the tragedy of this vicious second wave. Coronavirus is ravaging the old but it has not spared India's
young. The Prime Minister has announced that everyone over the age of 18 can get the vaccine. But with less than 2 percent of the country inoculated
that offers only a distant hope.
So India's capital continues to burn suffocated by the rampant spread of this deadly virus. A city and a country brought to its knees, praying for
respite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, earlier I spoke to Clarissa Ward as she watched people queuing for oxygen. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARD: I think overwhelming is exactly the word to describe it, Lynda. I mean, I don't know if you can see the sun has come down. There's a very
long line of people just behind me it's snakes all the way around the block. Some of these people have been waiting here since five in the
morning.
Some of them say they even came last night, and they're waiting for oxygen. It's not something that you are I would ever think, to have to line up for
to wait for. But here in India now, in the midst of this tragedy in this crisis, oxygen has become a precious commodity.
Many hospitals simply don't have enough to give to their patients. And that's why people are forced to come here, day in day out and get in this
line carrying these heavy cylinders, desperately hoping to fill them with oxygen so that they can give it to their parents, their family members,
their grandchildren, whoever it might be in their family who is suffering from this horrendous second wave.
And while they're waiting patiently for their turn to get this life saving gas there is a growing sense here, Lynda, a very real frustration to
particularly with the government. There's a sense that a lot of this could have been avoided, and certainly that it could have been better prepared
for Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly seems Clarissa that this second wave caught them completely by surprise as you say there was this desperate need for oxygen,
what else do they desperately need? What sort of international aid is now arriving?
[11:25:00]
WARD: So I mean the world is really pulling together here and trying to stand in solidarity with India. There is a raising awareness I think,
globally that you know, until everyone is protected or vaccinated no one in the world is actually saved from Coronavirus.
So people have been donating a lot of vaccines, a lot of oxygen and Remdesivir but there is a sense here on the ground at the same time, while
that is appreciated, that it's not enough. This is a healthcare system that is essentially on the brink of collapse.
So there need to be very fundamental systemic changes put in place, there needs to be huge amounts of money and infrastructure funneled into changing
the current situation, and making sure that a third wave doesn't come down the line.
And what sort of staggering to get your head around Lynda, is that we're not even at the peak yet of this second wave. Scientists are saying it
could be another two or three weeks. How long can these people come out day in, day out and wait for hours on end for oxygen? This is not a sustainable
situation. And unless the government is able to get control over it, many, many more people are going to die Lynda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Our Clarissa Ward there in New Delhi for us. Well, India's government has come under widespread criticism both inside and outside the
country for what many feel is a lack of preparation for this second COVID wave and its response. The spokesman from India's ruling BJP told CNN's
Christiane Amanpour, the party accepts responsibility.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARENDRA TANEJA, BJP SPOKESMAN: We are the government in India so of course responsibility is first and foremost ours, good or bad, whatever it is, and
it is our responsibility and we are trying our very best but this did come as a surprise.
Today a lot of people are saying that you should have done that view in February but that time scientists doctors, they were all more or less have
the same view. Politicians we politician form the opinion that we are getting we were more or less getting out of COVID situation.
We our views are basically coming out of the you know, kind of analysis, the kind of reports feedback we were getting from scientists and doctors
including those living outside India but Indians but living outside India, but evidently something went wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, after two decades, America's longest war is coming to an end with U.S. troops pulling out there is much concern Afghanistan will again
plunge into civil war or worse? We'll have the details coming up in a live report.
Plus, hospitals around the world are running at full capacity as health officials report them more than 150 million people have been infected with
the Coronavirus.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: Well, more than 150 million people have now been infected with the Coronavirus around the world. That's according to the John Hopkins
University; the countries with the highest number of cases are the U.S., India and Brazil.
The catastrophic COVID crisis right now in India is spilling over into neighboring Nepal with frequent border crossings between the two countries.
Nepal is now seeing a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, with sources telling CNN that there are now dozens of suspected cases at Nepal's biggest tourist
attraction, Mount Everest our Kristie Lu Stout reports.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: India shares a long porous border with Nepal and cases are spiking there. Cases are rising by a rate of up to 30
percent compared to 3 to 4 percent two weeks ago, a local lockdowns have been imposed as cities across the country including Katmandu, but with
people leaving the cities for their home villages.
Concerns are rising, but the cases will spread throughout the country and there have been reports that tourist at Mount Everest base camp have been
infected. The Nepali government has denied this, but we've spoken to a Norwegian climber who says he caught COVID-19 at Everest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT (voice over): Evacuated from Everest base camp after developing COVID-19 symptoms at 5000 meters.
ERLEND NESS, NORWEIGIAN MOUNTAINEER: I felt we can handle a headache and my oxygen level was very low. In base camp, I was getting worse. I was checked
by two doctors in base camp and I found some cracks on my lungs.
STOUT (voice over): Norwegian Mountaineer Erlend Ness was Medevac to hospital in Nepal's Capital, Kathmandu. It brought a temporary end to his
decade long dream to climb Everest.
NESS: When I tested positive and COVID it was a shock. And then I realized that the expedition was over for me.
STOUT (voice over): In preparation for the event Ness had trained for two hours a day for six months, and he already climbed six of the world's
highest seven summits and attempted Everest once before in 2018.
NESS: Two summit biggest mountains in the world is a big dream for every climber, I think wanted to stand on the summit and see the view.
STOUT (voice over): After Ness was hospitalized in Katmandu he says he tested positive for COVID three times. He is now in recovery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you Ness?
NESS: I'm very good, thank you.
STOUT (voice over): He says he got a negative test before heading to the mountain and doesn't know where he picked up the virus. Two sources from
base camp tell CNN that there have been dozens of suspected COVID-19 cases there in the past few weeks.
But a spokesman for Nepal's Tourism Department denied that there have been any cases there. This comes as neighboring India battles the world's worst
outbreak of COVID 19. The border between the two countries is still open, the seriousness of the wider situation left Ness grateful for the care he
received in the hospital.
NESS: I was lucky on our way someone died at the hospital when I stayed there. So it could have been worse.
STOUT (voice over): This rapidly developing COVID threat in Nepal is likely to derail the gradual reopening of Everest where more than 400 climbers are
granted permits the spring, the main season for attempting the world's highest peak. Kristie Lu Stout, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, the hustle and bustle you'd normally expect to see in Istanbul is gone Turkey now under its toughest lockdown, the first national
lockdown this year. The new changes come as the country battles its highest infection rate in all of Europe, as well as that slow vaccine rollout. Our
Arwa Damon is in Istanbul.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just about everybody here says that this is going to be a tough one. It's the first day of
Turkey's longest lockdown to date set to last until May 17th, encompassing the rest of the holy month of Ramadan, including their Eid holidays.
This caused people to rush to the stores try to get gifts for their kids finish up any sort of bits and pieces that they may have. Now, grocery
stores, they're still allowed to remain open. You can go shopping if you're walking within your own neighborhood but things like cafes or restaurants
they are shut down open for delivery only.
This one here actually is a neighborhood favorite. But I guess we'll have to wait before we can actually go in there. Now how did we get here?
[11:35:00]
DAMON: Well, the Turkish government is largely blaming the variant that first appeared in the UK B-117 saying that is the main cause for this spike
in numbers. The numbers really started increasing earlier in the year. The government tried to implement partial restrictions that didn't work. The
vaccination campaign has slowed down. And so that is how we got to where we are today.
Tourists will still be able to enjoy all that Turkey has to offer, although without a lot of the local flavor without the scenes of the fishermen who
would normally be lining the - but touristic sites, museums, they still remain open.
Now there is a lot of frustration and anger among the population here who feel as if, on the one hand, the government originally eased up
restrictions too soon, allowing things like indoor dining and even holding fairly crowded political rallies. But there is a sense that they reached
such a point that something this drastic had to be done.
The government is trying to not just protect its own population, but also trying to salvage what it can of a faltering economy is hoping to bring
COVID positive case numbers down from what they are at right now which is above 40,000 to below 5000 in order to fully salvage the upcoming tourism
season, Arwa Damon, CNN, Istanbul.
KINKADE: Well, the Health Minister in Brazil is reporting that a record 400,000 people have died of the virus in the country. Younger people are
making up a greatest share of the victims as more of the elderly get vaccinated. Many local governments that easy lockdown restrictions even
though experts are warning the country are repeating its mistakes from last year and other countries in the region are facing a surging rise in
infections.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SYLVAIN ALDIGHIERI, PAHO INCIDENT MANAGER: At this moment, most of the countries in South America often gone on these Ghana's shield are reporting
increasing trends. And in many of these countries, ICUs are overwhelmed with severe patients.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Journalist Stefano Pozzebon joins me now from Bogota, Colombia. Good to have you with us. So more than 400,000 people killed in
Brazil as a result of COVID-19 that's the second highest after the United States and a disastrous outcome for a country led by a man who was
referring to the Coronavirus as the little flu the little cold? There are now calls for his impeachment.
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Yes, exactly. Lynda, there is no way to under diminish the impact that COVID-19 has had on Brazil, Latin America's
largest country. Just to look at a number one person every 526 Brazilians died because of these viruses and the leadership of Brazil now stands
accused of not doing enough to try and prevent these - this tragedy to take place.
And in fact, Dr. Tedros in the same press conference that you refer to in your question and was asked what do you think and what the W.H.O. thinks
about further investigation into Bolsonaro's handling of their pandemic? Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, W.H.O. DIRECTOR GENERAL: I think for institutions, any government doing assessments is a routine thing, the
basics. So it helps us to learn from you know, what happened to understand the success areas and to understand the challenging areas and then to
improve in the future. So, this is the basics, but it's up to the country also to use its own regulations or laws to do assessments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: And Lynda, trying to open up a little bit of the picture. We're not talking just about Brazil. Brazil is right now, one of the most
affected countries and the death toll in Brazil it's dramatic, but as you said many countries in the region are facing similar circumstances.
[11:40:00]
POZZEBON: They'd say a new wave of the Pandemic that is wreaking havoc from the Patagonian Highlands to the Caribbean Coast. Yesterday, both Argentina
down at the deep south of the region and Colombia here where I am in the north reported new record cases.
And as you said, local officials and national officials are urging the population to try to adhere as strictly as possible to the social
distancing measure to try to curb the spread of the virus. But after one more than a year into their pandemic, South America is yet again at a very
critical moment with the highest death toll today Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, one in four people right now killed last week from COVID in that region of the world. But it's not just the pandemic that is causing
heartache in the economy, of course, is on life support.
POZZEBON: Yes, precisely, Lynda, it's a double edged sword that we have referred to in the past. And it's important to pay attention to what is
happening not just in South America, but around the world while, the United States and the European Union are talking about recovery and resilience and
invest in a lot of money into rebuilding and reopening the economy.
No country in South America has that type of fiscal capacity, that type of capital to invest. And just to give you a little bit of figures from here
where I am in Colombia just because they are the freshest the poverty rate in Colombia increases seven percentage points between before the pandemic
and now during the lockdown.
Due to the lockdowns that were imposed, of course to try to curb the spread of the virus and health officials, administrators and any government in
this region know that every day that people don't go out to work is the day that somebody will go to bed hungry and these will have massive
consequences for the region.
It's a very powerful double edged word that is hitting South America with dramatic effects with the health emergency on one side and the economic in
tatters, Lynda.
KINKADE: Indeed it is. Stefano Pozzebon in Colombia thank you. We are going to take a short break. Stay with us we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Well, the September 11 attacks - a war in Afghanistan that few thought would stretch over two decades. Well, now U.S. troops are
officially pulling out up to 20 long years and the loss of so many lives. The concern of many though is what happens next in Afghanistan?
Let's get some perspective now from our Ben Wedeman, who joins us, now live from Beirut. Ben the U.S. sending in more troops to help protect the forces
that are starting to withdraw.
[11:45:00]
KINKADE: Can you just expand on how they will actually remove the troops and how volatile is this situation right now?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lynda, we understand that the U.S. is sending around 650 troops to help in the evacuation of the
approximately 2500. Who are there, in addition, of course, to the 7000 other troops with other NATO countries.
Now, when you keep in mind that at its peak, the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2011, was 110,000 so in the grand scheme of things, this
isn't too complicated. However, obviously, the situation in Afghanistan is incredibly volatile, when you consider that according to some estimates,
either directly or indirectly the Taliban control about 50 percent of the country.
And they are pressing their advantage, their home advantage, when it comes to reasserting control. Keep in mind that the agreement that was worked out
with the Taliban and the United States basically asked the Taliban, not to use Afghanistan again as a base for terrorist attacks abroad, and to sever
ties with Al-Qaeda, as far as some sort of coalition government to follow the full withdrawal of the U.S. and NATO that's still been undecided.
And in the meantime, the Taliban are behind daily attacks on Afghan security forces, "The New York Times" keeps a monthly toll of tally of
attacks on security forces. And they estimate that the monthly death toll of soldiers and police from the government forces is around 279, nearly
66,000 Afghan forces have been killed in that country government forces since 2001.
And that's even more than the number of civilians killed, according to most estimates. And the worry is that the Taliban see that this is their golden
opportunity to reassert control of a country where they were essentially defeated back in 2001. But the United States and NATO clearly want to get
out as quickly as possible.
They're talking about the longest war. But keep in mind that Afghanistan has been in war since the late 1970s with the Soviet invasion, and that war
for Afghanistan is going to continue, Lynda.
KINKADE: All right, our Ben Wedeman for us, covering the Afghan withdrawal of U.S. troops from Beirut. Thank you. And our extensive Afghanistan
coverage continues online CNN's Nic Robertson takes a look at what effect Al-Qaeda will have on Afghanistan when U.S. troops pull out?
CNN reached out to the terror group for comment on that withdrawal. And surprisingly, for the first time in a long time, they answered. The group
promises a war against America in their words on all fronts until the U.S. withdraws from the entire Muslim world.
You can read all about it online if you had to cnn.com. Still to come, beating the blues on a bike with a new breed of bike is part of CNN Academy
showcasing exceptional new of reporting.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
KINKADE: Well, I'm turning to Dubai styled construction plan in Albania. Well, that's what the UAE is hoping to do there. The UAE is making a
massive $2.5 billion investment at a new port development as part of what it sees as the new Europe. Our John Defterios spoke with one of the UAE's
leading developers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMAD ALABBAR, DIRECTOR, EMAAR PROPERTIES: New Europe attracts - very attractive for me. But when I look at Albania, and I see what's happening
with the government, too, and I see how hard everybody is trying to move the country forward? And I would like to be the first one to be there
because all indicators are right, double digit growth in tourism. You get 450 kilometers of amazing coastline facing Greece.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: You say you're attracted to new Europe. And everybody was very surprised when the UAE made such a major
foray into Serbia, Belgrade, personally for you, and it worked out. So this is the kind of second frontier in new Europe is how you see it?
ALABBAR: Yes. And since then, I've been in and out of all these countries. Amazing, amazing economic growth, amazing work for us government is working
day and night to be part of the real Europe.
DEFTERIOS: So you look at it and most people say look, Albania reputation for corruption, drug trafficking, human trafficking, but doesn't deter you?
ALABBAR: No, unfortunately, Albania had a past because of governance in the past, probably before the 90s. And they had to grow out of that it's not
going to happen overnight. But I think they're there. And all indications are really very positive for me that's why I'm doing a sizable project. And
I'm so proud that I'm the first one.
DEFTERIOS: It's interesting, because they had a devastating earthquake in 2019, which was really decimated many things, including the Duress Port,
you think this is almost a rebuild, and redevelopment opportunity for the country.
ALABBAR: Of course, there's a lot of rebuilding is happening now. And I hope we can contribute not only in rebuilding, but we contribute to put
Albania on the map to invite other investors as well with us, because OK, we are there to get a rate of return.
But you know, I mean, if we can contribute and become good citizen that we highlight the importance and the value in this country and it's in the
government and its people.
DEFTERIOS: This is a mixed use development 800,000 square meters. So this is sizable. Apartments, hotels, offices, I mean, the whole kit and
caboodle, as we'd say, but this model from the UAE, something you put forward in Dubai can be transferred to a country like Albania.
ALABBAR: Well, I think I did that many countries, but the last was in Serbia, where I have to cover the train station and I did exactly the same.
And it worked extremely well. I really believe that this works everywhere in the world.
But you have to do it well. You have to have the right partners. You have to build the largest Marina, the Adriatic and do these with you know, with
over 12,000 apartments with hotels and restaurants and shopping. I think it's like - for me it's like a - like I got a dream that I'm going to go
and execute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, we've been bringing you exceptional reporting by the first class of students at the CNN Academy based in the UAE young Emirati
nationals and other residents from some 200 nationalities who lived there got the chance to learn from CNN's best.
Elena Andrea Stoker (ph) is one of our shining graduates. She knows the pandemic has put a lot of strain on families, especially working moms, but
they're finding some unconventional ways to beat the stress. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is - I'm a mother and a wife. I work as a marketing director in a multinational company in Dubai. Put the chocolate
in the cookie mama, don't eat them, right. I have my partner my two kids to look after.
For me at that time, it was too much. It was just too much. You will take to your friend from our cookies. I was just having breakouts all over my
body and I never had that. I was full of pimples and it was due to stress.
So I said to myself, if I have to live this life that's high performing at work high performing at home I'd rather put myself also somewhere on the
top. I really don't know how but I just thought of motorcycling. But I never thought I would drive myself like I never even thought like why would
I do it, you know?
[11:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then I was like, no, no, it's something interesting. Why not? That just starts in the school and buys my own bike
in 2017, which led me to the lady biker group - Dubai. So amazing when we come together, and we just dropped down the identity, religion, the
nationality we dropped down everything and we just meet as powerful sisters. That's it.
I'm happy to be on my bike with the girls. As much as I feel this push and pull within me where I'm like your mother, you shouldn't be doing this. It
took me a long time to feel that it's normal for me to ask for my meeting. Seeing the positive outcome from my hobby, I was like that said I just want
to be this balanced woman because you know what I noticed after going on the ride for an hour or two with the girls I come back with of energy.
It's just a crazy powerful machine, you know, you're just sitting on an engine and it is just like. So just imagine this, the sound of the machine,
the engine, the vibration, you have to make sure we're riding within the tribe getting that energy. And you know, this is by itself is just so good
to reduce the stress.
This type of connection, it sinks in your soul. And once this happens, you feel like you are charged for a week to come. This is the key. The key is
to really listen and look within us. Each individual has a way to thrive and the way to live a more balanced life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Love that story. What a great way to beat the blues? Well, that does it for this edition of "Connect the World". I'm Lynda Kinkade, stay
safe. Stay well and have a good weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
