entertaining. talk to al jazeera. only on al jazeera america. > saudi-led air strikes continue to target houthi fighters and much-needed aid arrives in yemen we'll be speaking to the red cross in a moment. hello, you're watching al jazeera live from our headquarters. [ gunfire ] anger and frustration at a polling station in nigeria, as people gather to vote in faith elections. a new chapter in u.s.-cuba

relations - strained for more than 50 years. plus... >> i'm veronica pedrosa near thailand, in the hub of the fishing industry once again under the spotlight for human trafficking and slave labour despite government promises. ed the saudi-led coalition stepped up air strikes in and around yemen's capital sanaa. the most recent target hitting a military depot. pakistan's parliament voted unanimously to stay out of the saudi-led air campaign instead offering to mediate and thousands of houthi supporters take to the streets in sanaa to condemn the air strikes. protesters say they'd remain steadfast in spite of the assault. despite the violence planes have landed for the first time

since the saudi-led aircampaign began. joining us on the line is marie clair, a speaks woman for the international committee for the red cross and joins us from sanaa. tell us about the supplies that you've been able to bring in, and where they are delivered to. >> after the first plane, we managed to have a much-awaited second plane with 35.6 tonnes of supplies generators and materials to fix broken systems around the hospitals, and also in the civilian areas. we have started since yesterday evening to take by truck, some of the assistance to most areas, and we'll continue on the next days to dispatch the medical

supplies and other supplies all over the country for the time being have you said you managed to reach sanaa and aden. >> we are in sanaa and present in aden and tiaz and all around the country. what he has done now is we have started taking the medical substance, and having all the parties on the ground. to have this taken through the places where they are needed the most. >> okay. you talked about medical assistance. are we to assume the supplies that have been delivered do not meet the humanitarian needs on the ground that there's much more still that you need? >> there is of course much more needed. the first emergency we had was the medical assistance. what we need to do first is save the lives of others in danger and that means the wounded.

we have enough food and other assistance to deal with the displacement in the country, but we have not yet been able to get first-hand account of people that are not in the camps but with other family members. this is something we'll need to address. >> the u.n. humanitarian coordinator called for a humanitarian pause in the bombardment and fighting on the ground to allow the aid to be delivered. are you hopeful this could happen soon. >> we need medical assistance to reach affected areas, but it's important to allow people to go out and collect the dead body buy food and water and if they want to move to safer areas, they should be able to do so. we are hopeful. the international committee of

the red cross has no power to impose this all we can do it remind all parties of their obligations. >> thank you for speaking to us. spokeswoman for the i.c.r.c. marie clare feghali joining us on the line more on the situation in yemen with mohammed qbarti lie in the studio. let's talk about the political angle, if you will. we have addressed the humanitarian angle. saudi arabia asked pakistan to contribute ships, aircraft and troops to this campaign. but pakistan has now ruled itself out, saying it doesn't want to be directly involved and would rather mediate. how much of a setback is this and the prospect of a possible ground intervention that we have been talking about for more than two weeks? >> as far as i understood, the

pakistanis are a little bit hesitant to interfere on the ground in yemen, getting boots on the ground in yemen. as far as the saudi integrity. they will defend it. the other violent is it is quite good. we want to show the confrontation, not being sunni against shia because if it takes a dimension, it doesn't help. we want to see it within the charter of the arab league. it's a blessing in disguise. the need is now to have all of the arab world against the aggression from the iranis not on the basis of the sunni shia but on the days of - the national interest of the arab people in that area. >> all right. let's talk about what has been

achieved or not achieved in the last two weeks, more than two weeks, 17 days of this campaign. the saudis were hoping that the houthis would, you know drop their weapons and surrender. this is not the case. they failed to stop the advance of the houthis in aden for instance as well as in southern and eastern provinces. you wonder today what the ultimate goal is. you know what is the end game. how much longer will we see the aerial bombardment. a lot of people are angry at the death and destruction caused by this air strikes. again. on the eastern provinces of south yemen, yes, they are trying to extend the efforts there. as regards on the contrary i see them being beaten in aden. they are beaten and on the run, and they are besieged in aden. the resistance in aden though they have not received help by troops on the ground or any

troops you know to coordinate the efforts of the resistance in aden in spite of that they are on the run. they are mounting a courageous resistance proving that these people - they failed to take aden. to look at it from that angle, the houthis and the former deposed president could not take aden they come back to the negotiating table. now they have to come to the negotiating table. >> is there room for negotiating. >> that's the only outcome. these people in the long run, lost a lot of weapons, they are besieged. time is not in their - on their side. time is against them. i know yes, civilians are suffering because these people have especially in aden city have run out of the barracks and the gar sons and went into the streets, fighting from the streets. the civilians are suffering, and that dimension, i think, the humanitarian aspect of - of aden should be addressed, people are

suffering in aden. >> thank you very much for sharing your view point. mohammed qubaty in the studio to other world news. the fine state of elections is underway. voters are returning to the polling, electing 36 governors and other representatives. people are angry because voting materials have not arrived. police fired live ammunition to deploy a crowd. let's join ynonne ndedge who is covering the election from river state. there was tension a while ago. tell us about the situation now. are people able to vote? >> well unfortunately we are now getting reports that one person has been killed in election violence. we are trying to contact the police in river state to find

out whether this is accurate information. it wouldn't come as a surprise given what we witnessed - gunfire at a polling station where election material was supposed to be distributed but none arrived. where aam now is a polling -- where i am now is a polling station where things are going smoothly. people are behind me and are lining up to get accredited to take part in this election. that process is running from eight in the morning to one in the afternoon. in the afternoon the idea is they come back to cast the balance. this is a hotly contested election. the main party, the ruling party is facing a formidable challenge. >> do tell us about the importance of the election which is the final stage of the voting process, and river state

where you are. why is this such a crucial battle ground. >> like you said the elections are taking place throughout nigeria. in the 36 states people are choosing the state governor but this is the epicentre of a titanic battle between the ruling party, the party of goodluck jonathan and the all progressive congress. that's the party of the president muhammadu buhari. it's the richest oil-producing state, the bedrock of the oil industry and the creation of hundreds of billions every year and who runs the state? this state contributes a lot of money to the coffers of the party that is in charge. it's been held by the ruling party for the last 16 years, since the end of military rule and the senses that they are

desperate to hold on to the gate. we are getting reports of some irregularities taking place. >> we'll follow event in nigeria. ynonne ndedge, live from port harcourt. thank you u.s. president obama has shaken hands with cuban president raul castro. the two leaders expect to hold a private meeting at the summit of the americas in panama. it's the highest level meeting between the two sides more than half a century ago. in 1959 fidel castro and his revolutionary seized control. relations between the two countries deteriorate with the u.s. breaking off diplomatic ties in 1961. washington imposed a tough trade embargo in place for decades and hurt the economy. obama relaxed the restrictions as relations start, but can only be overturned by congress and obama faces opposition from

republicans. al jazeera's diplomatic editor reports from panama city. arriving for a summit which he hopes can change forever his country's relations with its neighbours. president obama started a process of normalization with the government of raul castro four months ag. a cell phone camera caught the moment two men chatted and shook hands. in a matter of hours, they are expected to have a proper discussion. the first time that happened between leaders of the two countries since mr castro's brother fidel seized power in 1959. >> as the united states begins a new chapter in our relationship with cuba we hope it will create an environment that improves the lives of the cuban people the u.s. is keen to portray the summit as an historic change in its relations within the entire region. there is one very significant

cloud horizon. these protesters are angry about an executive order by president obama a month ago, placing sanctions on senior venezuelan officials, and condemning the government to president nicolas maduro. he made a point of visiting a place where civilians were killed during the u.s. invasion of panama more than a quarter of a century ago. >> translation: i will speak about justice and how to reach justice. the united states has to ask for forgiveness from panama and latin america for the invasion of 1989. >> reporter: he is not the only critic of obama. at many side event, it's clear the left is tradition of latin american politics is alive. these comments from president evo morales. >> translation: now they can't dominate with military

dictatorships - what do they do? economic aggressions, trying to drown the anti-impeeristic governments. when they can't do that they try to divide us. >> reporter: some nations in the region are wary of the united states. but if that meeting between obama, and president castro goes ahead, it will be an historic moment, and if as expected the u.s. removes cuba from the list of countries that are believed to be state-sponsors of terrorism, things really will change at the summit there's more to come on al jazeera. after taking back tikrit the israeli army is trying to liberate ramadi from i.s.i.l. fighters plus where has all the water gone. why fracking in the u.s. is taking its toll on one community.

welcome back. you're watching al jazeera live from doha. a reminder of the top stories. the saudi-led coalition stepped up air strikes in and around sanaa. military destinations including an armed depot were among the targets it's a sign of thawing relations between the u.s. and cuba president obama shakes hands about raul castro. it is expected they'll hold a private meeting at the sum of the americas in panama

and reports one person has been killed in electoral violence in nigeria. police fired live ammunition to disperse a crowd in port harcourt. people were angry because voting material had not arrived. they returned to elect 39 governors and other representatives. iraq's government suffered a set back after i.s.i.l. fighters attacked anbar province and seized two areas near the city. >> reporter: iraqi army tarts i.s.i.l. positions near the city of ramadi struggling to defend the area from a push close by. the fighting is days after the military supported by shia militia took control of the city of tikrit. a sunni muslim from that city

returns. despite being told he can return, he says he's too scared to go home. >> translation: i can't go back to tikrit because of what we saw the shia militia do. the destruction in tikrit. they entered the houses. after they looted them they burnt them pretending i.s.i.l. did it. >> reporter: tikrit was a major victory, doing it with 20,000 shia militia fighters. it's this group that some sunni residents accuse of looting and ransacking government buildings. many sunni muslims from tikrit fled with their families to erbil in the northern kurdish region of iraq. >> honestly we are far from the scene. we don't know what is happening there. what you see on television, that the shia militia has a negative impact. we hesitate to go back iraq's prime minister visited anbar to congratulate

the troops and ordered the arrest of anyone breaking the law in areas under government control. the military says it will continue to work with the shia militia, wanting to build on the victory of tikrit and push into other i.s.i.l. controlled areas of anbar province. as the fighting intensifies, winning the trust of people like this will be difficult an egyptian court sentenced mohammed bad ir the leader of the muslim brotherhood to death. 13 other senior members of the group got the same sentences. the u.s. egyptian citizen were sentenced to life in gaol for supporting the group and transmitting false news. they appeal to the highest courts at least six people have been injured in an expression at an underground car park in a

maul in southern thailand. mobile phone and video shows a popular tourist island running in panic. police do not know what caused the explosion now, more than 500 men have been rescued from a remote island for years. they were enslaved and forced to fish. they've been working in the industry where abuse and mistreatment are rife. veronica pedrosa reports. >> reporter: at a buddhist ceremony hundreds of workers on an island at sea are mourned. a few of the survivors who made it back home to thailand pray with the monks. they ask that we don't show their faces. in the past rescued workers and their families have been threatened with violence. an investigation found as many

as 4,000 men on thai fishing boats are stranded on remote indonesian islands. workers' rights in thailand who uncovered the abuse say the priority now is to get the men home safely. they need help from the government. >> the government is too worried about the export sector and the international human trafficking report - they are more worried about their image than solving the problem. >> thailand is the world's third largest exporter of food and fishery products. the industry was worth 8.8 billion in 2012. the international labour organization estimates 17% of workers are subjected to forced labour. >> this is the fisheries industry in thailand. it is where many trafficking victims say they are recruited and sold by brokers to fishing boat captains and where seafood is brought to be distributed nationally and globally.

>> for years, cases have emerged that expose labour abuse in thailand's fishing industry. >> now we are changing the system. we anouned in the be -- announced that in the beginning, it's not just announcing. we are putting into action setting rules and regulations and checking the boats. >> even though they are free workers rescued are haunted by their experiences. this workers was trapped for 13 years on boats and indonesian islands. >> i don't know what to do next. i have to wait for compensation from the employers. it could be 2-3 months. i want the government to help us. >> reporter: the future looks uncertain for workers like these, who have been rescued, let alone those stranded or trapped in the systematic abuse in brazil police arrested

three former congress men suspected of involvement in the corruption of the oil giant. the first politicians to be arrested. politicians say the scheme involved many in illegal funds. the city of vancouver in canada wants all of it's power from renewable energy sources by the year 2050. local government members made the commitment committing to a goal of 100% green energy. more than 50 cities are on their way to going totally green. iceland is there, getting electricity and heat water is becoming the latest front lining industry. last year a town in ohio in the united states sold millions of gallons of water to a gas company to use in fracking

organizations. there's a second oil company setting up nearby and some are worried that a similar matter could happen. bisi onile-ere reports from ohio. >> reporter: what did you see last fall? >> i saw the lowest water levels that i have ever seen. i've lived here most of my life. >> reporter: jill leaves off the banks of this creek, which provide drinking water to over 30,000 living in or near the small town of barnesville ohio. it serves as a place for the emerging energy industry. >> i feel the vibrations. it keeps me up. i used to just hear the creek, like today. but there's a lot of times now where it feels like i'm next to an airport. >> reporter: when water levels dropped to dangerous levels after a dry summer this person

became concerned. >> we need water to survive. i know the industry has to have it. i wish they could find it somewhere else and leave the reservoir alone. it's ours. >> reporter: fracking provided the village with millions of dollars, new jobs and some made money through land lease agreements. there's growing concerns about the negative impact of fracking which some environmentalists linked to water contamination and earthquakes across the country. in 2012 the village of barnesville signed a contract allowing gulf port to buy water from slope creek reservoir to drilling operations. the village made a second deal in 2014. with another fracking country, to draw water from the same source. and they would not comment for our story. we stopped by gulf port energy's ohio office but were pushed away.

the company released a statement reading: >> it just seems like a joke to me. so many cases where people in authority are just tip toeing around. they don't want to offend the industry. they are not putting the people first. >> reporter: two fracking companies, one reservoir and residents worried they'll be left high and dry now, spain's first hologram protest has been held to protest a gag law. activists say the anti-protest legislation limits freedom of expression and gives powers to the police. spain has seen a rise in protests against the government's unpopular austerity programme

n.a.s.a. and spacex are planning to launch an unmanned cargo ship on monday. the spacex capsule is set to deliver two tonnes of supplies to the international space station. astronauts have been making space walks and preparing the exteriors. we have this report. >> reporter: breath-taking views of earth from 400km above. astronauts on board the $100 billion space station captured the footage with $200 cameras. the space walks took place in february and march. they are preparing the ex-terrors of the space station so commercial spacecraft can dock with the i.s.s. they are making changes to the station's arm so it can capture unmanned cargo vessels. like fall con 9 due to take off

on monday. n.a.s.a. is entering agreements with spacex and boeing. they are building spacecraft to latch on to the i.s.s. docking ports arrive in june more news on aljazeera.com. >> the president is at the summit of the americas, a hemisphere get together in panama. for the first time in a long time being able to participate in a pan american conference like a normal country. it's part of the thaw between u.s. and cuba and takes that issue off the table. it's the "inside story".