. tell us what you think and we'll have modifier "america tonight," tomorrow. failing to help the syrian people leading aid organizations accuse the u.n. of not doing enough to stem the crisis. ♪ ♪ with welcome to al jazerra live from our headquarters in doha. i am jane dutton. also ahead. fighting for control the iraqi offensive gains important ground in the battle for tikrit. plus two policemen are shot outside a station in ferguson, missouri as protests continue

over racism. and an age-old problem. weapon report from china where the elderly population has outgrown care facilities. ♪ ♪ we begin with the war in syria which is going in to its fifth: 21 leading aid organizes include the u.n. security council of failing to help the syrian people. the group say resolution to his protect civilians haven't been enforced. the latest pictures from aleppo are said to show the aftermath after a barrel bombing. the syrian government is accused of continuing to use the illegal weapon on his civilians. i u.n.-backed report says the war has cost syria $200 billion plunged post of its people in to poverty. the u.n. estimates more than 220,000 people have been killed so far.

7 1/2 million are displaced inside syria. a fourther 4 1/2 mill an are said to be trapped in besieged or hard to reach areas. almost 4 million peel are registered as refugees. the battle is split to nba to government and rebel-controlled areas. as part of our special coverage to mark the fifth year of fighting. zeina khodr reports on the devastation of what was syria's commercial center. >> reporter: it was one of the oldest cities in the world. its historic center is now in ruins. a help uh-huhs been an urban battle ground since the summer of 2012. syria's largest city has been divided by many frontlines and on many of them, sheets and drapes are used as cover from snipers.

the government controls territory in the west and the opposition the east. the only crossing point allowing them to move between the two areas is now a wastelands. closed by the government last year, it was a dangerous journey. dozens were killed because of sniper fire, but it was a lifeline. ettes for state employees who were relying on their salaries to survive. >> translator: the crossing was right foal civilians. now it is a 12-hour journey this crossing use towed allow people to visit their relatives 67 society has been torn apart in many years in the rebel-tell east, there is little sign of life. last year, 10s of thousands left when populated areas were continuously hit by barrel bombs bombs. many others were wound the. those that last their livelihoods have been left to help themselves i.

>> we need money to go to turkey to get treatment. we have been forgot edge. we want someone to feel for us. >> reporter: also in the rebel-held east, health facilities were bombed at the start of the conflict. the people of the area managed to set up make-shift hospital to his deal with the many casualties of war. but they are not up to the standards needed. >> translator: we don't have surgeons. most of the doctors were either killed or fled. we don't have medicine for diabetic patients. >> reporter: the health system has all but collapsed. the syria war is entering its fifth year. neither side can claim victory. an initiative by the united nation to his freeze the the fighting in the city of aleppo didn't achieve much. the people on both sides of the divide remain traped in what many describe as a deadly stalemate. it's a daily struggle. it doesn't just take hours to buy bread. government planes have targeted

crowds standing in bakery lines. for the warring sides the battle for aleppo is strategic, but it has destroyed the lives of those living in what was once syria's commercial capital. zeina khodr, al jazerra beirut. two police officers have been shot during a frost in the u.s. city of ferguson, missouri. the shooting comes amid scuffles and arrests. the night started with the resignation of ferguson's police chief over allegations of racism. a white officer from his department shot dead an unarmed black teenager last august. shia by tanzi has more. >> reporter: police chief thomas jackson had long maintained that there was no racism on his watch. but on wednesday he became the sixth official forced to leave their job in a small midwestern city accused of systemic racism. >> the city of ferguson and police chief thomas jackson have agreed to a mutual separation which involves the police chief's resignation from the

city of ferguson. >> reporter: his departure had long been demanded by a protest movement formed after the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager michael brown last august in ferguson. the belief that the police dispro pours atly targeted the blacks in the city. the d.o.j. found that the police and courts saw the local african american community as a means of making 90 municipality. millions of dollars were raised by targeting ticket, jailing and keeping black residents in what have been called modern debtor's prisons until they were to play multi fly fines. under the slogan black lives matter it's about far more than ferguson. now each time an unarmed african american youth is killed by the police demonstrations usually follow. some 600-kilometers north in madison, wisconsin there have been daily protests since the killing of unarmed 19-year-old tony robinson last friday. >> this is a bigger issue than

tony this. highlights a universal problem with law enforcement and how its procedures have been cared carried out especially in light of what has happened over the summertime. >> reporter: demonstrating against an entire system that they say is racist and unfair. the resignations in ferguson have been welcomed by those who have taken to the streets in protest. but ferguson say tiny city of some 21,000. a change in its municipal personnel is unlikely to be enough to appease those wanting greater change. al jazerra. iraq's army is advancing in to the center of tikrit backed by shia militia and sunni tribes men. the military is trying to recapture the city from the islamic state of iraq and the levant. isil has been in control of the area since june last year. the operation began a few days ago on monday iraqi soldiers took control of theville only east bank of the tigris river. troops are also said to be making gains in the west of

tikrit. they want control of the strategic street which connects to central a tikrit. iraqi forces are meeting resistence with several of its soldiers killed in the fighting. now a report. >> reporter: from the air and on the ground, this iraqi advance is in to northern parts of the isil plaintiff held city of at that treat. in front lines soldiers mock the fighters of isil on radio frequencies both can listen to. this shia in litsch a fighter says we are now there and coming to get you. where are you? the isil fighter retorts by saying by god we will come and slaughter you. our martyrs will go to heaven and yours will rot in hell. and that's the kind of sectarian division and hatred at the heart of the conflict in iraq. a sunni minority ruled by eye sunni majority government. some sunni fighters are part of

the offensive but much of the force is made up of shia militias. and iran's influence also concerns the sunni residents. this is the general a commander of the powerful iranian force seen here near the tikrit battle front. many iraqis resents iranian involvement in the conflict. >> translator: some countrys trying to get involved in iraq's fares. not to protection the country but because they don't agree with the iraqi government. so if we don't stop the militia iraq will be divided. >> reporter: but iran says it's playing a crucial role in fighting isil. >> translator: if we hadn't helped them the day the iraqi government requested our assistance, even though most of the burden is on the shoulders of iraqi people who are standing up to the islamic state then the group would have attacked many regional countries. >> reporter: some blame foreign intervention in iraq for creating an unending cycle of violence fueled by sectarian tensions . >> this is a repeat of an earlier cycle.

in 2007, there was a massive sunni resistence, that was overcome. but there was no reconciliation because the sunnis do not accept that iraqi shiite religious parties who they see as more shiite than iraqi should be the rulers of the country. >> reporter: and iraq's eye allies including the u.s. realize what is at stake. >> it is something that is concern to go us in particular because the sectarian danger in iraq is the principle thing that can unravel the campaign against isis. >> reporter: but unless that campaign result in bridging the shia-sunni divide, the gains against isil may not last long. al jazerra. another major battle in iraq has occurred in ramadi where iraqi forces reportedly killed more than 40 isil fighters.

the armed group attacked government-held areas in the city with several car bombs. iraqi state television reports that 17 of the fighters who died were suicide bombers. at least 13 people have been killed nay series of explosions in baghdad a suicide bomber ran his car in to a building killing at least 11 people in the mostly shia neighborhood. another 30 people were hurt. an explosion that hit the area just hours before and another blast in eastern baghdad killed two people. the u.s. secretary of state has fired back at republicans for trying to undermine a nuclear deal with iran. the group of senators wrote to teheran saying an agreement wouldn't be good after president obama leaves office. white house correspondent patty culhane has the story. >> reporter: republicans in the u.s. senate are on the defensive after sending an open letter to iran's leaders. broadly seen as an attempt to kill the negotiations over its nuclear program. >> this letter is about nothing more than stopping iran from

getting a nuclear bomb. >> reporter: but if the headlines any indication, it's backfired big time. >> this letter is a hard slap. >> reporter: democrats and even some republicans say it was out of line for 47 republicans to warn iran the next president can throw out of deal. or congress could change it. u.s. secretary of state john kerry says it's also not true. >> it's incorrect when it says that congress could actually modify the terms of an agreement at any time. that's flat wrong. they don't have the right to modify and an agreement reached executive to executive between country -- between liters of a country. >> reporter: secretary kerry will travel sunday to continue negotiations many analysts say they don't think the letter will impact the talks but that it could help iran if ideal isn't reached. >> the eye crane iranians given this letter can say we conceded all along but you have this letter. in the events there is no agreement it makes the

probability that the sanction regime will stay intact that much hard even it's hard to see how the russians and chinese are going to stick to not obama but the hard liners in the republican party. >> reporter: the democrats are less likely to stick with the republicans now. meaning it's lease more likely that if there is a dealt it will stick regardless of what they write about it. this still to come on al jazerra, why migrants arriving in greece are being given indefinite detention. plus. >> reporter: i am catherine s.o.i. and i will tell you how south sudan's conflict and a fall in global oil prices is affect thing the economy here.

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"inside story". weeknights, 11:30 eastern. on al jazeera america. ♪ ♪ held going let's take a look at the top stories on al jazerra. 21 aid groups have accused the u.n. security council of failing to protect syrians. it is four years since the beginning of the up rising against president bashar al-assad but the fighting shows no signs of ending. iraqi government forces are advancing towards the center of tikrit they have taken over several nearby villages, isil has been in control of the area since june. two police officers have been shot during a frost in the u.s. city of ferguson, missouri. the night started with a resignation of the city's police chief. over allegations of racism. one of his white officers killed an unarmed black teenagers last year. ukraine has received a boost in spending from the u.s. and the interim national military

fund. the u.s. announced it will deliver $75 million in nonlethal aid. meanwhile the i.m.f. has approved a $17.5 billion loan to the country with the bulk of the money, at least 5 billion distributed bite end of the week. but the money will only be paid if the ukrainian government slashes its spending and implements are you forms. a year of political turmoil and war has crippled ukraine's economy i march the ceasefire in ukraine appears to be holding but nato says russian forces are still operating in the east. pro-russian separatists have withdrawn weapons from the frontline in recent days but nato says it's not enough. >> we have seen a russian strong force and presence in eastern ukraine. we see the delivery of equipment forces training, so russia is still in eastern ukraine.

and they have over a long period provided substantial support for the separatist and therefore we call on russia to withdraw all of its forces from eastern ukraine and to respect the minsk agreement. south africa's president has brushed off called to payback millions of dollars in state funds spent on his private home. >> you can call the police, there is nothing you can do. >> jacob zuma was heckled in apartment lie opposition members when he refuse today plain how he plan to his repay the money he has been asked to he repay $20 million. in south sudan oil production has been sharks by a third since fighting broke out in 2013. many oil wells have been damaged or are under rebel control. the government relies almost exclusively for funding to run the country. >> reporter: this is how you'll find most university rex true halls in south sudan.

almost empty. many of the lecturers are on strike. they had a pay cut last year and now they want that money back. but the government says it cannot afford it. and here is why. since an ethnic conflict started in 2013, all production has been reduced by more than half. oil accounts for over 90% of the government's income. >> i must try my post increase the production. and then if i increase the production, i will even be selling at give-away prices. in a way it's a loss of revenue we know the results. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: the fall in global oil prices has made it worse for south sudan. the country is said to be selling crude mainly to china at one of the lowest prices in the world because of its lower quality. let's break it down, a barrel of

crude oil from south sudan is selling at roughly $45. more than half that have is paid to sudan's government for transport, refinery and a development compensation agreed on when the two countryies took most of the oil fields and after they paid the oil companies here the government remains with less than $10. some are worried that the economic situation will get much worse before it gets better. >> it's becoming real, the quick collapse is real. and unless we take some drastic measures and that very soon, it should have been yesterday not tomorrow. >> reporter: industries including this water bottling company are having a hard time dealing with the overhead. south sudan imports almost everything, including refined fuel. most of it for generators used to power the country. losses from its oil revenue foreign currency crucial for

import. is scarce. [ inaudible ] we are unable to get the raw materials. >> reporter: many people here are afraid that south sudan's economy will continue to get worse unless there is peace among the warring parties. catherine soi, al jazerra june, a south sudan. the u.s. secretary of defense ash carter says isil-affiliated targets might be expanded to include boko haram in nigeria but in a visit to washington nigeria i can't's i's defense intelligence chief says he was confident about the fight against boko haram. >> i am very confident we will win this war before march 28th i think this operation will almost be completely finished with.

and france has pledged more troops to help in the fight against boko haram in northern nigeria. defense minister insists the extra soldiers will not be involved in direct combat operations. jackie roland reports from paris. >> reporter: french sole stkpwrer on his patrol in the streets in mallee. just one way the french military is heavily engaged in its former coloniescolonies in africa. right now 8,000 french troops are deployed in peacekeeping unions which is straining the armed force to his the limit. >> one of the solution is his perhaps to say that we are not the only country to have this goal to fight abroad. and more and more we ask for for example the european union to to pay more on two more for military reparation as broads.

>> reporter: on top of the overseas missions another 10,000 troops are currently deployed inside france itself. this is in direct response to the attacks in paris in january in which 17 people were killed. more demands are being made on the military than were budgeted for. this is a time of economic crisis in france. all government departments under pressure to reduce public spending so the defense ministry has had a to make a special case as to why it should be an exception. maintaining an army that's fighting fit is an expensive business. while some units are on active duty. others are training back at base base. then there is the equipment. the army says it must have the most up to take technology to confront current potential enemies. >> we have around 30,000 people deployed out of 70,000.

that's almost one out of two. it's too much, you know. and currently if we maintain this number of deployed, we have to decrease our training. >> reporter: france remains on its highest state of alert. the president wants to keep the current number of troops on the streets, particularly outside synagogs and jewish schools. this military presence will be part of french life for sometime to come. jacky rowland, al jazerra paris. greece is seeking you feel e. support to deal with migrants. the debt-strapped country faces an estimated 50,000 arrivals each other year many refugees. the as john reports from athens the government wants people to change how they can apply for political asylum. >> reporter: this is comfort food for mohamed. a simple bread made from flour and water dipped in broccoli stew. he shares it with fellow

pakistani flat mates in a basement they call home on the outskirts of agents ens. he is trying to wash away the taste of detention center where he's just spent nine months and what happened to another pakistani detainee. >> he had been locked for 20 months, he was released and given a month to live free, but was arrested again. he told police he needed to work and sends money home to his mother and brother and sister, but they didn't listen. three hours after they brought him in, he hanged himself. >> reporter: the second suicide in as many months here, testament to the failure i've policy of indefinite detention for people who aren't criminals. and even applies to minors and asylum applicants. flaunting europe's pretrial detention limit of 18 months was greece's most recent meth you would for dealing with irregular migrants. the council criticizes grease greece to foe training more than 18 months this camp is being wounds down inmates being

released 30 a day. they have no travel documents enabling authorities to deport them of the new left wing government thinking of turning the detention centers in to open camps allowing economic migrants to work if the fields. but greece faces an estimated 50,000 arrivals every year. it wants our up to change the rules and allowed people who need political protection to apply for asylum anywhere in europe not just greece. >> we are 10 million indigenous people plus a million migrants this 10 to one ratio doesn't apply to other european countries, don't they see the problem? and in the midst of a crisis. it's not a question of racism. we just can't take it anymore. >> reporter: under the conservatives, these camps were meant to act as a deterrents. that plan failed because people fleeing war and poverty are willing to face detention. legal residents like that enjoyed by his friends is under

likely under such pressure even under a left wing government. he just hopes his luck will turn. al jazerra athens. thousands of employees eight chew factory in china are back at work after a three-day strike. nearly 6,000 employees walked out of a factory over concerns about government benefits. the factory surprise several international fashion houses including guess burr barry and prada. staying in china. country's aging population is outgrowing care facilities and is creating more opportunities for foreign providers. more from shanghai. >> reporter: volunteers performing an afternoon concert in a shanghai retirement home. unlike most care homes in china this one is foreign-owned. providing expertise from the united states. the companies is here for a simple reason, accord to this united nations more than

130 million people in china are now over 65. and there is a shortage of facilities to care for them. so china's government has been forced to allow in foreign providers. he is 88 and moved in to this development a year ago after his wife died. >> translator: we used to live with my children. but they were busy with their own children to look after. and i didn't want to make their lives even busier. so i moved here. >> reporter: the care cost says him more than $1,500 a month. a third more than the average monthly salary in shanghai. he covers the fees with his state pension interest from savings and renting out his former apartment. but some residents need specialist care. partially paralyzed after a stroke, she shares the room with her husband who has dementia. the fees are paid by their daughter. >> translator: my mother used to

live with us in the past, we hired a made but she couldn't handle it safely. it's not just three meals a day my mother needs more medical care especially since her stroke. >> reporter: it can be a painful decision to sends a parents here. but it's a decision more children are having to make. in chinese society it's traditionally fallen to the children to take care of parents and grandparents, only those with no one to look after them were sent to a home. but as china's middle class has expensed with more women entering the workforce a cultural shift is now underway. >> these days most of the children, most of them are working. husband and wife are both working, so the only recourse that they have if the senior at home needs help is to get a domestic helper and when this does not work, then that is where they need help. >> reporter: he is still alert enthusiastic and in strong voice. ♪ ♪

>> reporter: his children have pleaded with him to come home. but i am happy here he says. adrian brown, al jazerra. shanghai. that's it for this half hour the news continues on our website the address aljazerra.com. >> flap point ferguson missouri missouri. a town ruled by a mostly white city council but not for long. for the first time the people of ferguson has a chance with four blacks on the election for city council. i'm ali velshi and this is "real money."