[ gunfire ] millions of people in yemen are at risk as the war drives the country towards what is called a humanitarian disaster. i'm david foster you are watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up... ..the u.n. describes the horrors the people went through before they fled syria's yarmouk refugee camp. al jazeera was given access to the university attack in kenya. the country launches air strikes

against al-shabab. plus... >> i'm jennifer glasse in kabul where afghan shopkeepers are protesting a new tax by closing their doors. the u.n. children's agency u.n.i.c.e.f. is warning that the war in yemen is driving that country towards what it calls humman tarian disasters. it's 12 days since the fighting from the saudi-led coalition. and the death toll mounts. dozens are reported to have been killed in clashes in aden alone. elsewhere there has been fatalities too. for several days the southern port city aden saw intense fighting. houthi rebels on the one side and forces loyal to president abd-rabbu mansour hadi on the other. undeniable is that food and water is in short supply and

human rights groups say houthis attacked and detained 400 politicians, activists and journalists. this report is by omar al salah. >> reporter: almost two weeks of air strikes and the humanitarian situation in yemen is worsening by the day. at the capital sanaa there's a rush to buy food. people are panicking, preparing for the worse. this queue is to secure wheat. the price has almost doubled since the war started. >> the sack of wheat is almost $40. poor people can't afford to eat. >> translation: some buy 20 sacks, others want one. i've been trying to buy one for the last few days. >> reporter: fighting and air strikes led to food shortages. people are scared. >> i have been here since last night. kids and the elderly are at home.

they are terrified of the bombing and vibrations. we do not have wheat and flour. it's a tough situation. air strikes are hitting the targets. they are killing civilians. many are searching for the bodies of family members. >> translation: this is the home of my brother. they hit hit his home at 2am. it was a random bombing. we woke up to find the house reduced to rubble. >> reporter: and in aden in the south the humanitarian situation is not much better. people say they've been without clean water for five days, no electricity. and stores are cleared out of food. the international red cross is preparing planes loaded with aid. >> the most urgent needs in yemen is in the hospital. there are wounded people arriving every hour. the hospitals do not have the capacity to provide treatment. the priority is to bring medical supplies. there are other needs in yemen.

people have been cut off for days, and don't have food and water in many locations. >> reporter: it may provide little comfort to the millions of yemenis caught in the crossfire within the last hour the international red cross has been telling us at al jazeera that a small passenger plane with aid staff landed. so far not successful in finding anyone willing to fly a cargo plane into the country. u.n.i.c.e.f.'s representative said it will take the country and years to recover from what is going on. >> we have the ability to bring in some assistance is a great step forward. we'll see where we go forwards. if we go where we are, we are heading towards a humanitarian disaster. the needs are getting worse. there's no way to get assistance. we statement a million children

are not alt go to school because of conflict. been 100,000 have been decision placed 100,000 have been displaced. we have seen more children killed in the last few days. capacity is limited, needs are worse. we have to look at the immediate impact, but think about the secondary impact to the conflict. this is a country which is incredibly vulnerable. the nutrition was terrible. and now we are looking at the health systems of all of the country which will be undermined. that needs support. what are called popular resistant forces loyal to abd-rabbu mansour hadi retook control of an air base in the south. it was seized following saudi-led air strikes north of aden. inside aden the fighting

continues. >> reporter: the saudi-led coalition ramps up the air strikes. war planes strike bridges that lead to the city. the aim is to prevent houthi fighters from sending reinforcement. radar systems, command centers and checkpoints have been hit. >> reporter: the houthis tart buildings and people -- target buildings and people. they moved to certain areas to take cover from the air strikes. we work in coordination with the tribesman and the popular committees. >> violence in aden shows no signs of slowing. after days of fighting and running battles, many parts of the ski have been destroyed. homes, shops, vehicles lay in ruins, civilians are being killed. houthi rebels and fighters loyal

to ali abdullah saleh, the former president, are infiltrating districts near the city's port. these are fighters loyal to president abd-rabbu mansour hadi and they are putting up a fears fight. they have received new weapons, air dropped by the saudi arabia-led coalition, and remain largely outgunned and out numbered by their rival. aden is a battle ground and locals are caught in the middle. president abd-rabbu mansour hadi who fled to saudi arabia could be trying to recapture his military. he sacked the army's chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and the commander of the special forces accused of treason, his decision may have little impact. that's because the military is largely loyal to ali abdullah saleh, the deposed president, and he is fighting alongside the

houthi rebels in the war the u.n. security council is talking about what is going on in yemen with russia and the gulf state putting forward draft resolutions. james bays has been following the event in new york. >> quite a lot of diplomatic activity behind the scenes the united nations. russia called a meeting putting forward a draft resolution calling for humanitarian access for a pause in the fighting. that's russia's draft. there's a draft from the gulf countries, programming what they would like to see at the security council, trying to get the draft approved as a revolution focussing on demands of the houthis, and the use of violence that they withdraw their forces from areas at the see. and any provocation from neighbouring states. in this resolution it adds to

existing sanctions by the misty upham security council. those sanctions against ali abdullah saleh and two houthi leaders. this draft adds two names annexed to the resolution. it has former president salah's son added and abdul malic al-houthi is mentioned in the resolution. as happens here they'll look at the russian drafters the new gulf draft and net on the text to come up with something that the whole security council supports. supports. well now to syria, and the united nations describing the situation inside a palestinian refugee camp as behind inhumane. i.s.i.l. stormed the yarmouk camp in damascus and controls

more than half of it. 2,000 people have fled but as many as 16,000 for are still dropped. stefanie dekker reports from neighbouring lebanon. >> reporter: they speak of incredible fear. these are some of the people that managed to get out of yemen. the syrian national newsagency aired the pictures showing how the army and factions helped them get to safety. >> translation: in the matter of them they could have executed all in the school. yil called from the mosques if we catch one of with you working with the palestinian group fighting or with the government, they'll cut our heads off. they have no mercy for the first time video of i.s.i.l. was posted online showing the inside of the palestinian refugee camp. they have been fighting palestinian groups and others for the past six days. the camp has been besieged for more than two years by the government because rebel groups

are based here. people are starving with no running water or electricity. i.s.i.l.'s presence and syrian regime bombardment in the camp is making a terrible situation worse. although some made it out. most of the 18,000 that survived here are trapped. >> we cannot pay for anything. we are demonstrate on anyone's side. we want the camp to be safe. >> the palestine liberation organization is sending a delegation to syria to solve the crisis. no aid is making it into the camp. we are told by activists that the lack of medical supplies is making it impossible to treat the wounded. i.s.i.l. tomorrowing the camp is a shock, the presence terrifying people. the u.n. warning of a catastrophe if the fighting does not stop. stay with us. we have this coming up keeping

the wheels of industry turning between turkey and iran. an important turkish visit to tehran. plus... >> in the middle of conflict a report on the orphans of ukraine. ukraine. >> part of al jazeera america's >> special month long evironmental focus fragile planet

now the top stories on al jazeera, the united nations children's agency u.n.i.c.e.f. says the conflict in yemen is driving the country to a humanitarian disaster. the death toll mounting - and in

some areas food and water is in short supply. the international red cross told al jazeera a small passenger plane for aid staff landed in yemen the p.l.o. the palestinian liberation organization says a rescue operation is under way in syria in the yarmouk refugee camp. i.s.i.l. fighters stormed the camp op wednesday kenya's air force targeted al-shabab fighters in somali after an armed attack. the military said jets destroyed two camps in gedo region. al-shabab says it fell on farmland. al-shabab threatened more attacks on kenya also they withdraw troops from somali. our guest says there are reports that the targeted areas are al-shabab camps. >> kenya protects the border by

carrying out pre-emptive strikes on the areas. troops on our side of the border need to police that border. if it is left it's a long stretch. definitely it will stretch our troops. however, we are able to at the moment take care of this area. >> al jazeera has been given access to garissa university where the atrocities occur as the investigators gather evidence. catherine wambua-soi reports from the compound. >> reporter: this is where the killings took place. bullet holes pepper the walls of the dormitory, signs of a fears battle. three soldiers were killed. behind the door 100 people mostly students were shot dead in the courtyard.

this dormitory is where it happened. there's a strong smell of blood. it's difficult to imagine how horrified those who died here were. blood sustains are everywhere. some of those who planned and carried out the attack are said to be kenyans that joined al-shabab. we spoke to a student that hid in a cubicle. >> translation: those men were asking students "do you agree with uhuru kenyatta's government? will you tell the president to withdraw troops from somali?" students answered what they thought the attackers wanted to hear. some were killed anyway. >> reporter: this man waits outside the gates. he's hoping for news about a missing student. a member of his church. >> translation: they can't find him in mort uaries or in a list

of survivors - ind jur or dead. -- injured creditor dead. -- injured or dead. this is the new commissioner. he had to deal with hundreds of attacks killing people along the coast. >> if we contain that. we are going to contain it. i'm confident. i don't think it is insurmountable. it is not on university in nearby kenya has been closed indefinitely. many students we talk to said they never want to come back. ukraine's president petro porashenko has indicated that he no longer objects to a potential referendum in separatist-held areas of the east. ukranian government expressed anger when polls n independence were held by russian separatists who created their own state. the separatists in control of parts of eastern ukraine

dismissed petro porashenko's gesture as meaningless. some form of a ceasefire is supposed to take place in the region. yet there are violations by both sides. there's concern about the impact the war is having on children. more than 8 million live in ukraine, hundreds are killed fighting in the east and 140,000 have been forced out of their homes. that figure includes come of 95,000 children that live in orphanages. they are pawns in the crisis. >> reporter: this modest factory the republic of donetsk is

looking to russia for their future. they have been living under the control of the ukrainian government. the children were moved in secret as the fighting was at its height and after separatist fighters told them they'd be moved to russia for their own safety much >> translation: they sold us whether you want to go or not, you have to go. we told them we wouldn't. we started to cry. they didn't care that we were children. when we said we are not going, they said just try staying. and we will shoot you or your children. >> whatever happened the children became pawns in a play-off. the ukranian government making the first move. >> threatening children is not acceptable by any side. it shouldn't have happened. the kids were threatened.

they accused ukraine of stealing its children. >> translation: they are obliged according to official responsibilities to return the children back here. this is a real crime, there'll be a crime when someone will face justice. >> the majority of these children will live in institutions like this most of their lives. now they are in a tug of war between the two sides. many are confused. some feel cut off from it all. that's the reality, the children are classified as orphans, many abandoned by their own parents. all with contact back this donetsk, and most are more detached than normally. at the moment i can't go home because of the rebels.

we need border passes. relatives can't visit me it's bad. it's been a year since i have seen them. i miss them. >> reporter: it's questionable as to whether the new ukraine or separatist donetsk people's republic is looking after the best interests of the children. they are having to cope with a traumatic experience of war, along with the isolation of feeling often unwanted turkey's president will arrive in tehran on tuesday, days after accusing iran of trying to dominate the region. tehran made similar claims against turkey but there are strong economic ties between both countries. two of the regions are significant players, along with egypt and saudi arabia. bernard smith reports from islamabad. >> this man's modest factory in istanbul sells stationary to

iran. they are part of the turkey's exports to iran worth $4 billion last year. imports from iran, mainly gas, were 10 million. economically both need each other. why is he here? >> he can't source the material me needs in iran. >> reporter: if a customer has a special order, we can produce it. we can't do it in iran, we can't get hold of raw materials, in turkey every door is open for business. but politically both countries are poles apart. in yemen iran supports the shia houthi rebels, but denies giving them aid. some in majority turkey said it may provide logistical backup to the saudi-led coalition against the houthis, and ankara put to one side some differences with riyadh, especially the opposition for the saudi arabia-support for the coup

deposing mohamed mursi. >> the foreign policy and practices seems to be assertive. they are supporting military organizations. they are supporting a group of military organizations, arming them. but this support do not solve any problems. they become more complicated. >> reporter: yemeni is the latest flashpoint in the region. it's on iraq, and significantly syria where turkey and iran are at odds. >> iran consistently backed syria's president. while turkey wants bashar al-assad gone. turkey suspects of iran using the fight against i.s.i.l. to extend its influence there. in northern iraq. both countries hope to increase bilateral trade to $30 billion. we may expect more conciliation rather than confrontation when recep tayyip erdogan arrives in tehran.

in the u.s. a jury will deliberate in the case of the boston bomber on tuesday. >> dzhokhar tsarnaev is charged with killing people by planting explosions at the finish line of the boston marathon. defense lawyers admitted the 21-year-old's role in the attack. each is focussing on whether dzhokhar tsarnaev deserves to die for his crimes. shopkeepers that live in the capital kabul shut up shop against five-fold increases in their taxes. the government says it's trying to get off international aid. the businesses say it shouldn't be their problem. jennifer glasse reports. >> reporter: shops are chiefed across the capital. -- closed across the capital. kabul's market is like a ghost town. the reason why is clear. the shutdown means central kabul

looks like this when it usually looks like this. shopkeepers say they had no choice when the tax bill arrived. >> last year we paid $300 per shop. this year the government wants more than $2,000. store owners say they can't afford that and took the plaints to the streets. the finance ministry says it's following the law and trying to create a tax culture. >> translation: we want to pay the same fax as last year. we can't pay more. last year it was hard to pay taxes. since the beginning of the year business has been bad. >> reporter: store owners plan to stay closed until the demand nor lower tax is met. though they support the protest, some shopkeepers opened anyway. they can't afford to lose the income especially in an economy where they were struggling to

make a proved. the shutdown is a challenge for the 6-month-old government of ashraf ghani who promised to reduce the aid relied on for 14 years. to do that he needs to build a tax base. it looks like that may not be easy. >> india is checking how polluted 10 major cities are. they have 13 of the world's 20 most pol ute and dirty -- polluted. and dirty air is responsible to 620,000 premature deaths. air pollution is a result of the economy and changing lifestyles. countries trying to deal too with overflowing landfill sites the problem in cities, such as mumbai. it is fays jamil discovered. >> reporter: this mountain of trash is a garbage dump one of the oldest and largest in asia

it can't take more garbage arrives daily. this is one of several women hired by a nonprofit group to do something about the problem. >> translation: we are helping the garbage service by separating the wet and dry garbage. we can sell part of the dry trash to make money. >> reporter: along with low-tech solutions such as sorting garbage, the city is trying a high tech method. . >> reporter: this is one of mumbai's land fills. they take in 11,000 tonnes of garbage. here they are using technology to break down the technology. a private firm has been hired to build a bioreactor it garbage is filled by the bottom and broken down. >> recirculating the liquid off the garbage into the garbage, enabling it to degrade at a

faster rate some say 75% faster. the gas we capture and we turn into electricity. >> reporter: that solution will take years, and has only been done at one site so far. local officials same the city will need more dumping space in the meantime. >> we are looking at almost 60 to 65 heck tallers of land. -- hectares of land. it's a new dumping grouped for future needs. we have problems which is why we are looking for space outside mumbai which is not surrounded by real estate development. >> some say reducing garbage is a step in solving the problem, one this neighbourhood is doing by composting organic waste. >> we should not sit helplessly. we should take our own initiative and do it. if they don't do it nothing will happen. the city will go to the dogs.

>> reporter: as new solutions are tried out, the mountain of trash grows. the sprawling metropolis produces more garbage that and a great deal more if you go to aljazeera.com. [ ♪ music ♪ ] this is "techknow". a show about innovations that can change lives. we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity and we are doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science by scientists. tonight tech your vets climate change. -- investigates climate change.