a powerful cyclone damages homes and crops in eastern india. massive evacuations keep the death tolo. tol toll low. welcome to al jazeera. also ahead. the u.s. secretary of state leaves afghanistan with no deal on ho. the crisis in the med terraimediterranean as the numbf desperate migrants grows. leaders called to action. the threat of a virus hangs over mecca as millions of

pilgrims gather for the hajj. millions of people have been taking shelter from one of the most powerful cyclones to hit india in more than a decade. homes have been damaged and crops have been destroyed. >> but so far, the numbers of people reported killed by cyclone phailin is remarkably low. >> cyclone phailin with one speed at one point in excess of 300 kilometres-per-hour smashed into india's eastern coast in the early hours of saturday evening. but authorities had already successfully evacuated 800,000 people. the most inland shelters away from traditional huts found in small communities along the coast. and as the powerful storm hit land it slowed considerably.

>> at this time the wind speed is 40 to 50 kilometres-per-hour. this will decrease to 30 kilometres-per-hour. and then we wil the choppers wie called in to carry out rescue operations. earlier reports suggest that there won't be too many to rest rescue. with death tolls in single figures. >> the trees are uprooted and officals remain confident that advanced preparations an evacuations have saved hundreds of lives. it's still pouring down in many areas. >> it's off the range of 10 to 20 centimetres and at many places and isolated o ex-true ey rainfall has been reported. >> damage to agriculture was also down played. and works were quickly on the scene in some affected areas clearing and cutting fallen

trees and opening roads. officals say they have learned a lot of lessons since 1 1999 whea cyclone killed more than 10,000 people. lessons that appeared to have paid off. ourour correspondent, they y a relatively low death toll. do we know the full extent of the damage? have all of the affected in the areas been reached? >> no they haven't. the issue has been communication. there has been a blackout since late last night for hundreds of kilometres stretching from where we are now through to owe dish yeah. and many of those places there are hundreds of communities that still haven't been reached. a local member of parliament in that area himself said it's going to be a couple of days

before they get communications open in that area and they can assess the damage there. the worst of the cyclone may have passed now, but there is now concern for water and sanitation i understand. what are the authorities doing to address that particular issue? >> they have several teams of the national disaster response force in these areas. and they have been deployed to take care of that. we are looking at now at damage to infrastructure which could make long term effects to the economy and food supply. there is a concern that a lot of rice crop may have been damaged. maybe a little and maybe a lot. because of xeuncatio -- communey don't know at this point. one thing they are looking at is the cyclone is moving inland and could give heavy rain or flooding to other states in the inland part of the india. >> thank you faiz there with the latest. now also joining us from new

delhi is a chairman and founder of the independent think-tank and center of policy alternatives and a former advisor to india's foreign minister. this is an area with an important farming belt. it's a largely agriculture population. do we know at this point the extent of the damage to agriculture land and to crops? >> well i think you know, given the overall size of india and all of the amount of lost to crops will be very negligible. the storm centered around six districts and the total amount of people evehicl evacuated wasa million people and the loss of life is about nine people. agriculture does get affected by heavy rains and we do have heavy veinrains now and that is boundo happen. and the government measures will

hopefully kick in. what is impressive is the way the storm was handled was the preparation. we were confronted with a great cyclone and i think the government already all three governments the state and the central and the central government had their teams up in place and to evacuate a million people in less than 12 hours. it's a remarkable achievement in itself. sorry, sir to interrupt you. coming back to the impact on the agriculture. there will be some damage to crops in the six districts that you mentioned. what impact is that likely to have on the economy of the region? >> well you have some effect on the economy of the region because 80% of the people in the regions depend on agriculture. cyclones like this happen every decade or so and people have learned to live with it and learned to adjust with t.

>> we have to see how quick the government measures are and how quick they are to create the work. we have d to give them sometime. >> you mentioned the government authorities were better prepared this time and there was a warning system in place. do you think that the fact that we are seeing a low death toll is also perhaps down to better infrastructure in these areas? >> of course you have had the new national highways grid running across there and then you had the better road communications to smaller villages and outlying towns. and so all of that has helped. and communications have improved and every village has a cell phone and people were able to communicate and able to move. government warnings were heeded and they had government deployment on the ground and they worked well. thank god for that. >> thank you for speaking with us.

that is the former advisor to india's finance minister live in new delhi. us secretary of the state john kerry is on the way back to the us with no agreement with how to deal with crimes committed by u.s. troops in afghanistan. before he left president karzai said he would defer the issue to the council of elders. the issue of jurisdiction is one such issue that is beyond the authority of the afghan government. and it's only and entirely up to the afghan people to decide upon through two americ mechanisms os the traditional laws of afghanistan and the second is the constitutional mechanism which is the afghan pivment.

parliament. >> the question of jurisdictions is it an appropriate one for them to submit. and we have high fen confidencet the people of afghanistan will see the benefits that exist in this agreement. we need to say if the issue of jurisdiction cannot be resolved, then unfortunately there ca cant be a security bilateral agreement. the afghan government says foreign troops have not respected their sovereignty in the last decade. and there is the issue of the role of the troops in afghanistan after 2014. kabul want thethe biggest sticks the immunity of the u.s. troops. afghanistan wants them to subjected to their laws in case there is any wrongdoing. >> john kerry pushed the point that the u.s. has military bases

a across the world and they have specific procedures and he couldn't agree to make an exception for immunity from prosecution for u.s. soldiers. they have not come out with a grand agreement. both edges have moved closer to certain issues and no not on others. and the only real way that can be solved is in the coming weeks and months. talks to raise the us debt ceiling appeared to have collapsed days ahead of a deadline that could see washington default on the money they owe. house republicans had a measure to raise the debt limit but it was rejected by the senate. if a solution is not reached the u.s. will default on their loans for the first time in history. in vietnam 150,000 mourners have paid their last respects to

the general. he is cred credited with drivi. and french troops out of vietnam. he has been buried in a temple overlooking his hometown. >> now millions of muslim pilgrims are in saudi arabia for the hajj. keeping so many people healthy is a challenge. this year health authorities are taking extra precautions because of a virus that often proofs prs fatal. >> this is one of the biggest gatherings of people in the world. millions of muslim faithful converge here in mecca for the annual hajj. this year is different. health authorities are on alert for anyone suffering from mirs. it's affected 119 people in the kingdom. fifty-one of whom who have died.

some people wear masks for protection. but many have no idea whatsoever about the disease. >> i was more interested in learning about how to perform hajj, i didn't care about diseases. it's been eight days since i arrived and i'm fine. >> in the coming days millions of pilgrims will live and perform rituals in crowded areas. a situation where diseases like mirs could spread easily. but part of the problem with mirs is world health organization has what it calls very limited information on how it spread. spreads. still the saudi health minister says he is confident. >> i would like to ask for everyone the status of hajj is excellent. the health of the pilgrims are excellent. we don't have any indication of any epidemic disease or

infectious disease including this virus. >> in this hospital the doctor shows me isolation rooms where patients with infectious diseases will be treated. for the time being hajj authorities are asking pilgrimses to wear masks and to maintain personal hygiene standards. people with chronic diseases were told to defer to hajj. >> there is very little known about the exact way that the virus transmits. we know that it transmits from human to human. but the mechanism and the speed of transmission is still unclear. >> pilgrims with respiratory problems are treated in hospitals like this one in mecca. samples are taken and analyzed. but as serious as mirss is it's not the only health concern during hajj. sun stroke and people's underlying health issues have in

the past proven to be the biggest problems to pilgrims. doctors hope that the respiratory syndrome doesn't do anything to change that. still ahead on the program. a building boom in mexico is supposed to end the housing crisis s. but new developments have become ghost towns. and a dying profession. why the writing is on the wall for rawanda street typists. ♪ on inside story, we bring together unexpected voices closest to the story, invite hard-hitting debate and desenting views and always explore issues relevant to you. [[voiceover]] every day, events sweep across our country.

and with them, a storm of views. how can you fully understand the impact unless you've heard angles you hadn't considered? antonio mora brings you smart conversation that challenges the status quo with unexpected opinions and a fresh outlook. including yours.

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stories on al jazeera. eastern india is assessing the damage caused by sig cyclone phailin. rice and banana crops have been extensively damaged. u.s. secretary of state john kerry has left afghanistan having failed to reach a full agreement on whether crimes committed by u.s. troops should be tried by afghanistan or in america. the issue you came to the floor last year after a soldier killed 16 afghan villagers. the deadline fo for u.s. to default on their loans. the bill was rejected by the senate which has a democratic majority. maul a atmalta's prime minis appealing to the european union to help solve the migg mig migrt

problem. from malta. >> huddled on deck the survivors of the latest tragedy. helped on to dry land and perhaps a new life. among them many children shocked and cold but alive. it's thought that many of those involved were syrian. the maltese prime minister appealed for help from the eu. he said the mediterranean was becoming a cemetery. >> we feel totally abandoned. there is no mixed words, abandoned. this is a european problem. malta and lamb pe lampedusa ande are not europe's frontiers. >> these desstraigh desperate pe looking for a future in europe. our colleagues aien no can not a blind faith to this.

>> it could have been worse. maltese and italian rescue ships were quickly on the scene. these images were filmed by the italian navy. dozens are floating in the water waiting to be picked up. here a toddler is quickly handed on to the ship. once aboard they sit wrapped in blankets recovering from their ordeal. on the nearby island of lampedusa this young child was brought in with his father and mother but his three-year-old brother didn't make it. >> when we knew about this we knew a helicopter for ten people was on the way. >> we activated our group. and we are all here ready to take action. >> it's barely a week since the last migrant boat disaster the worst yet claiming over 350 lives. on saturday the coffins began

their journey back to the homes they hoped to escape. there appears to be no end to this desperate human traffic. despite the obvious danger thousands are willing to risk everything including their lives in search for a better future. rescuers are still looking for survivors after a boat carrying hundreds of people sank in central mali. the vessel broke up as it negotiated the niger river. 20 bodies mostly of children have been recovered so far. the boat was overloaded with people and cargo. more than 200 passengers survived the sinking. police used tear gas to dispurse anti-government protestors following the funeral on saturday. the barain center for human rights says he was tortured.

now to mexico where millions of people are struggling to find a house they can afford to buy. to meet demand builders will have to put up eight and a half million new homes in the next 12 years. many developments that have been already built stand empty. >> these homes were supposed to be a dream come true for millions of mexicans. >> hardworking men and women who struggled for years to find affordable housing. like silvia martinez and they hr husband who moved here seven years ago. after they bought their home thanks to low interest mortgages financed by the government, their dream of home ownership turned into a nightmare. >> there is no public transportation and there is crime. we can't find jobs and few schools and places for children to play. only 30 square meters.

it's barely enough room for them and their two sons. silvia had to turn her kitchen into a store so she could help buy a car for her husband's two-hour daily commute to his job. >> many people like us came here but they ontari only lasted twor three months because they couldn't afford transportation or work. >> more than 40% of the hopes are empty. some were abandoned while others never sold. this house has been abandoned like thousands of others in this neighborhood. and what this really illustrate is that the mexican government's policy failure over the past decade to try to provide affordable housing to low income families. since 2000, more than 2 million low income hopes hav -- homes hn built with subsidies. the problem is the developer focused on making a profit rather than building a viable community. >> this has been the dominate

housing policy by the federal government for the developers it was financially successful in the shor short term but in the g run it's costly to society. >> in january they announced a new policy saying his government would only offer financing to housing projects closer to cities and built as high-rises rather than urban sprawl. welcome news for maria who has been living in a makeshift camp in mexico city for the past 20 years. she says she can't afford the high home prices in the city. >> i hope that the government can help us with a loan to buy a proper house, because the camp is too small and our family keeps growing. >> like many mexicans she wants to final i will be able to a home owner without leaving her community. a truck has gone off the road in peru killing 50 people. the vehicle was driving through

the andys when it fell 300 meters into a ravine. the victimse victimses victims s indians. is this of them children. rescue workers say it was impossible for anyone to have survived the crash. iin chile hundreds protest marched thank you santiago. they were protesting against an anti-terrorism law that is being used unfairly against them. the government has blaipped a -a radical movement for a series of fatal arson attacks. the african union says none of their leaders will be prosecuted by the national court while in office. it's pushing the united nations to fee lato delay a case next m. >> african leaders arrive at the

headquarters of the african union. they came to t discuss the relationship with the international criminal court which is now taken a turn for the worse. kenyan president was here. he is due to stand trial at the court next month. but now african leaders say he doesn't have to. >> we have a result that no serving head of state or government or anyone active or entitled to act in such capacity shall be we quire required to rr in front of an national court during his term of office. >> this is where it all started. violence following kenya's disputed 2007 election. more than a thousand were killed and half a million displaced. the court prosecutor says the president is among those responsible. he and his deputy are facing trial in the hague.

so far they have cooperated with the hearings and they are legally obliged to because kenya is still a member of the icc. >> the statement made does not change that in any legal way but it's a strong political statement in defiance of the court and the countries that support it. i.in the early years the international court was popular by the african government. many of the cases were requested by the african country. many of those were against rebels and war lortsdz. lords. now the african are in the dark things have changed. changedmen. many meeting here say africans can deal with their own problems. >> steven campains for international justice. they have not been allowed to attend the last two african union meetings. we have to speak to them

outside. >> the leaders here are trying to protect themselves. they feel they should be protected and victims should suffer. no victim should be given the right to justice which is absolutely unfair. sudanese president has also been charged by the ic ctcc. he is wanted for genocide. he refused to attend trial and so the court iron yo issue an international arrest warrant. it's a victory for him to have africa's support and a big test for the international court. they have been writing documents and love letters for people with no access to printers and computers. but the relentless march for technology is forcing street typists in rawanda to adjust. we report on the last members of

a dying profession. >> the triumph at the typewriter is a life line. she doesn't know when it was built. all thre she knows it's older tn she is and she is 35. she bought it secondhand back in 1995 and she has been here with her two friends on a side street by the bus terminal ever since. they are the last of the street typiers. typiers -- typiers. it used to be a clattering rank of a dozen lined up here. internet cafes have taken much of the business. there are still people that are willing to pay 50 cents a page for applications, business correspondents and job applications. i have a colleague friend of mine who is looking for another job. they use these typists because they know how to write it quickly. if i had to do it myself i

wouldn't do it well. >> the three friends know their days are numbered. >> they only have to look to their neighbor to see that. which is why the government is sending them on a course for information technology? >> i'm excited by it and i'm looking forward to the day i get a computer. i'm lucky to get those skills because once i graduate i can give up this really old machine. >> still there are plenty of people that are sad to see them go. in the age of the internet and the smart phone this is really a dying art. but there are plenty of people that bring their documents here, because they believe some how the old fashioned look makes their letters a little more per persuasive. across town the keyboard is the only thing that is familiar. none of the typists have worked with computers until a month and a half ago. now they are developing skills in a government run program to drag rwanda into the digital

age. but the software is english and the ja jargon is unfamiliar. this is not just about career development, this is about survival. and a reminder that you can keep up-to-date with all of the news all the time on our website alaljazeera.com.