ry beginning >> this was a storm of the decade >>...hurricane... >> we can save species... >> our special month long focus, fragile planet assessing the damage. the u.n. says the plight of yemen's people getting worse and it's envoy is quitting. ♪ ♪ hello, welcome to al jazerra. i am martin dennis, also to come if the program. grief and anger as south korea marks a year since the sinking of the see wol ferry. clem bee as develops says air strike against marc farc ebel ares back off are on after seven years remember killed in a

ambush we hear there migrants workers who say they are under attack in south africa. ♪ ♪ i was first the u.n. says the human tear i didn't know situation? yemen is failing with million struggling to fight food and water at the same time the u.n. envoy to the country has resigned he had been overseeing efforts to reach a political deal between the rival tabb factions but fell apart when the houthis staged their take over. as the fighting continues across the country the number of dead and injured are rising. more than 730 people have now been killed in the air attacks and street battles nearly 2007 hicks 60 have been injured. and the former president has been trying to make an exit. he's asked for safe passage out

of the country. forces loyal to him are accused of helping the houthi rebels and a spokesman mann for the saudi military has sold al jazerra he has no role in yemen's future. >> we are addressing now the stability situation for the yemeni population. we are assessal the legitimacy of the government. we are trying to prevent those militias to harm the population and the people of generally. and miller terry -- saleh and his group are not part of the plan of the plan is yemen. now we are facing the same thing. they are not same boat. he should find the same end. i think no one feels thinking logically fine saleh could be

part of the future of yemen. >> meanwhile saudi-led air strikes hit the houthi strong hold of saadr in yep own wednesday, the attacks damaged a pet troll station market area and a local government building. the province has been one of the most they heavily targed areas since the a strike began nearly three weeks ago live now to our correspondent mo value. vol who is in saudi arabia, quite a few significant developments, chad we step by step bow through them, mo and starting with the departure of jamal. >> reporter: yes martin, it seems like a natural conclusion after we have seen happening in yemen, particularly the number of times on which they expressed utter frustration at the lack of cooperation by all the sides in the conflict. particularly the houthis. he severely vitt sized them after they put president hadi under house arrest and also they

tried to follow him in aden and capture him there. and they, of course, their attack on his presidential pal he was very, very upset that after years of effort, tremendous effort on his part and on the part of the u.n. to help bring about a solution in generally, he has not found any cooperation according to his statements. >> then we have the former president saleh putting forward a plan by which he exists the scene, leaves the country. >> reporter: yes, martin the first reports talked about major point about his willingness to exit from yemen safely along with his family in exchange for leaving yemen and abandoning the houthis. but later in the day, we have new details about the initiative that his special envoy brought to the gulf leaders.

some of the points in that initiative talk about prime minister taking overpowers from president hadi. a presidential -- a five-member presidential council to be appointed later on monitor a transition in yemen and also the militias of hadi and the houthis withdrawing from aden and sanaa however, we have seen in the past proposals like this, in which the houthis pledged to withdraw from sanaa, one of them was ride after they took over the capital and they pledged with withdraw but it didn't happen even though all the other sides signs an agreement with the houthis at that time to withdraw. so people in the gulf, particularly the leaders may look at saleh's initiative as another ploy, another attempt for him to try to find the safe escape, however there is no guarantee in their minds that

saleh will actually implement what he has pledged. neither the houthis as well. >> okay, for how mohammed, thank you very much. mohamed vall our correspond next saudi craig. south korea's president says efforts to raise the wreckage the sewol ferry that sank last year will begin thursday, marks thursday the anniversary of the disaster that killed 304 people mostly students. 19 people are still missing. amid the grief there was anger a mourn the mourners a south korea prime minister was locked by the angry family. the president faced similar events. family members say their demands of a thorough probe has still not been met. the majority of those who died are from the same town as i said and just south capital seoul harry fawcett is our correspondent and tess ears at

the main memorial service which had to be canceled because of the protests against the government. >> reporter: this here in the sound where the school children came from, was supposed to be the main commemorative events on this the first anniversary of the sinking of the sewol. instead we had heard from the family members who have been mounting a campaign against the government for many months now and they said they will abandon this, they cannot commemorate fully their loved ones at a time when they are still seeking the truth of how they died. there were two key commands, firstly the government stopped hindering, in their words the work of a special investigative committee which is charged with trying to reveal more about exactly how the sewol was allowed to sink. the kind of is of at this regulations, accusations of corruption that led to oversights in allowing the ship to sail in the first place and indeed, of course, in the failures of the emergency response afterwards.

they also are calling for the sewol to be lifted from the sea bed to be assist that investigation, but more importantly, to try to recover the bodies of nine people who are still missing. the president of south korea has visited the port in the far south of the country where so many people gathered in the days after the sinking and she committed it seemed there to raising the ferry she said that she wanted to see it raised at the earliest possible time. it's something that could cost upwards, we are hold, of $110 million. but that doesn't seem to have been enough for the families. they say tphaoeugder of that i tkphaepdz are being met and the them chemicals railing raise will not take place. the colombia president has ordered resuming air rides against marc rebels. farc rebels. both side say the negotiations

will continue continue. >> reporter: a braise an tack on colombia's armed forces is threatening a delicate peace process, 11 soldiers died in the dawn attack by farc rebels in western colombia. and the aftershocks are being felt across the country. president juan manuel santos could barely hide his frustration as he announced the resumption of bombing farc height outs. >> this is a reprehensibly act that will not go without punishment and requires decisive action and there will be cons consequences we will officer on you hospital responsible i have ordered the lifting of the suspension of farc camps until further notice. >> reporter: it's a time difficult time for santos he spent two years talking with the wells with little to show no return. >> the president has spent more

time on this, and think he's more worried as this as his legacy than a good feel to the colombia people. >> reporter: he has been fighting -- farc has been fighting the government since 1964, he have mated 200,000 people in died in the conflict. formal peace talks began in 2012. but both sides meeting in cuba. farc negotiators committed to a unilateral ceasefire in december last year and the government agreed to halt military operations. but that momentum for peace is now under threat. >> we sympathize with the families and our countrymen. and call on colombiaans to deflect on this as we pursue the peace talks, it is necessary to end this war. president santos says the talks will continues giving hopes for the negotiations to move forward

but more attacks by corner the government and further test the president's resolve. now, the south south african ruling anc party is condemn being seen phobic attacks against immigrant shoop keep keepers attackser have been telling them to get out of the country. our correspond end has been speaking to some of the victims of the violence in durban. >> reporter: these migrant workers in south africa say they will do anything to protect themselves and their families. >> we are sick and tired of this problem. they kill us, lot. a we didn't kill and we didn't kill maybe one person. >> reporter: there has been a wave of the identifying between immigrants and locals in some areas. here in the port city of durban, police say at least four people have been killed. thousands have fled their holes gloria is from mozambique, she came to south africa nearly 20 years ago but she says some men chase heard and her

nine-year-old daughter out of their home insisted that she doesn't belong hear. >> translator: they said we know that you are not from south africa. can you please get out. you must go because when we were done here, we are coming for you. so i ran away. >> reporter: here in a sports field foreigners field there is safety in numbers they get food and other necessities from aid agencies right now they don't know how long they will be here. there is thought to be more than a thousand families here. they come from other countries they say that they are confused and can't understand why as africans, they are not welcome. some local as cues immigrants from other african countries of taking their jobs. the unemployment rate is a phonily at around 25%. but others say their anger is misguided. >> this is a protest against the angry south africans screaming and shouting to the government for them for their voices to be heard and the government has ignored them now the people are

protesting. >> reporter: it's going to get dark and cold soon. most families would rather be in their homes but they say they can't leave just yet. not until they are sure some of their neighbors won't attack them again. al jazerra. bourbon. still to come. china is accused of increasing tensions in the south clean china sea by building man-made islands. thousands struggling to make a living in the united states are fighting for better wages.

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♪ hello again let's have a look at the top stories on al jazerra. the u.n. says the conflict in yellen is worsening the right here of hits people coinciding with the renation of the special advice to to the country from the u.n. air attacks have continued for three weeks. south korea's president says step to his salvage of recognize written of the sewol ferry that sank last year will begin soon, protests from mourners who gathered for mark the first san rears are you of the disaster that killed 304 people. the colombia president juan manuel santos has ordered the military to resume air strikes against farc rebels. it follows the killing of 11 soldiers in a remote part of the country. considering to be a farc strong hold. the two sides have been in peace talks to try to end the long running civil war. now, isil has gained ground in iraq's anbar province capturing

several villages close to the capital of the province romadi. they already hold large parts of the western province the government announced a new offensive there last week omar reports from the capital baghdad. >> reporter: on the outskirts are the iraqi army says it is making gains. clearly more territory and preparing for advance further. more reinforcements have been sent. and soldiers are ready to fight. but isil is holding tight. the sound town certainty is in their grip. behind these lines is the real battle front. jet from the u.s.-led coalition have carried out multiple air strikes, flattening several tomorrows arehomes the commander in charge of the men says the plan is on track. >> translator: our troops now are here in and we finished the

first phase we advance four-kilometers from north to south. and now we are preparing to storm the city center. >> reporter: more than 75% of anbar province is under isil control. its fighters are entrenched roads littered with bombs and houses booby trapped with explosives. isil is also expanding control swing through more areas in the north east of the provincial capital. most of row mad is a now under isil control. the head of the pro provincial council says the iraqi army needs hem. >> translator: the battle is very big. the other rival arrival of the rephone enforce isn't not enough. get a big victory at this to show the public we are here but we'll stop them. >> reporter: iraqi government wants to build on the momentum after clearing at tikrit.

but anbar and mosul are different. the battle there is tough. u.s. military commanders have said that iraqi soldiers need more training. the u.s. is also concerned about the role of the popular mobilization force which the iraqi government relied on in the fight against isil. it is a force of shia paramilitaries many armedded and a vased by iranian officers. and it's accused of carrying out summary executions, lynchings and widespread looting. >> reporter: something the u.s. says shouldn't be remember indicated in anbar and mosul to prevent further sectarian tensions. the plans to retake anbar and mosul may be delayed of the government says its forces need more preparations and weapons. iraq has asked the u.s. for a apache helicopters and drones and fighter jets that, demand is unlikely to be met any time

soon. al jazerra baghdad. in syria, at least eight people have been killed in a government attack on the south eastern suburb of damascus. a main roundabout in the town was shelled and homes were destroyed. in yes cent days the region which is known as eastern has been bombarded by government air strikes and artillery. a report from amnesty international says four years after the up rising in bahrain rampant human rights abuses continue despite government reforms. the report details numerous abuses against peaceful activists and government pretty icriticsincluding torture arbitrary arrests and a ban of frosts. amnesty began a fact finding mission in to the 2011 up pricing following a brutal government crack town on protesters. bahrain has since cite addison ombudsman to investigate claims of police miss conduct but

amnesty says more must be done. japan says the number of fighter jets it has deployed to intercept foreign age mainly from russia and chinas has surged meanwhile the u.s. is ending air and navel equipment to the philippines among china's recognize may go inrecognizereclamation. marga or teague a reports from beijing. >> reporter: 71-year-old has been a radio enthusiast his whole life he likes that it connect him to the rest of the world and that radio fans are bound by an honor code. one of his biggest triumphs setting up a transmitter with an international group of thing thoughtenthusiasts it's in water claims by china and the philippines . >> all radio people have good

relationships. >> reporter: but relations between china and her neighbors aren't too good right now. with many of the smaller countries accusing china of bullying them on overlapping maritime claims. the philippines released surveillance photos saying china is building installations and creating islands on nine separate sites in disputed waters waters where 5 trillion u.s. dollars worth of trade passes through every career. china says it's for civilian purposespurposes and regional development. >> translator: the relevant construction, which is reasonable justified and lawful is well within china's safe sovereignty it does not impact or target any country and is beyond reproach. >> reporter: it's what most people in china believe. from a young age the chinese are taught to be proud of their heritage. that they live in the middle kingdom. the center of the world. part of that heritage is ownership over most of the south china sea. many here give little important

to the tensions brewing just beyond their borders. and are unaware that the matter has been brought to an international tribunal for arbitration by the philippines. >> of course the island are china's. >> yes, they are china's. we have been told this since we were kids in school. >> reporter: he too believings the without belong to china but hope its government take a curr from his hobb ask find another way to deal with the situation. >> china saying approximate put oil on the fire. we have a dispute we cannot find a way to solve at the moment, the best way is we cool down. make it cool down. not to put oil on the fire. that is not good. >> reporter: but with chinese activity continuing in disputed waters dispaying growing objections from its neighborhoods, many find it hard to believe china's stated intention to his talk and find a common solution. al jazerra beijing.

now, to mexico. where half a million people have had their drinking water cut off because of an oil spill. water treatment centers in the state of tobasco were shutdown after vandals damage aid pipeline causing oil to flow in to the sierra river. water surprise should be restored by friday. but it's expected to take two week got cleanup. south african asylum seekers being held in detention in israel say they are being threatened with at the pour take to unsafe countries against their we'll. nisreen reports where deportation noticed are being handed to inmates in a detention certainty. >> reporter: which israel rounded up thousands of asylum seekers and put them here, it was thought restriction on his their movement and access to jobs would be force them to return home. but only some have left. so the government recently offered an alternative.

written notices given to some here say they will be deport today unnamed african countries thought to be uganda and rwanda. eritrean army deflector daniel who received this notice refuses to be deport today rwanda because he says it's not safe. >> i. >> there is no security and who strong government there and no u.n. protection. no one stays in rwanda. it's a transfer points no refugees who use brokers to go to safer places. >> reporter: israel's interior ministry says the deportations will encourage infiltrators to leave the borders of the state of israel that an honorable and safe way and serve as an effective tool for fulfilling our obligations towards israeli citizens and restoring the fabric of the the life to the residents of south tel aviv. anyone who has received this letter has 30 days to leave israel. if they retuesday to leave they pill face a hearing to determine

their indefinite up prison. the israeli authorities say 1,500 asylum seekers have agreed to be deported but there are 10s of thousands of eritrean and sudanese migrants who have requested asylum here. many believe their asylum applications weren't even reviewed. >> they throw my asylum request and they -- while i have been waiting for the interview for the request last month they call me and just tell me to leave the country. without seeing my request. is that the way, is that fair at all? >> reporter: it reality i human rights activists say the israeli government may be keeping details of the deals reached with african countries intentionally secrets. >> the international community would be upset to israel, for example is giving weapon to his dictator ships in africa in exchange for unwanted refugees.

i think the israelis would be outraged if they learn israel is giving millions, hundreds of millions of their money that that they pay in tax to his get a few hundred people out of israel. >> reporter: these men say they would rather live here than in an unknown dealt dirt destiny. 10s of thousands of work ears cross the united states are demand the federal wage be doubled to $15 an hour it push began in the fast feed industry a year ago but the movement is ex-planning. >> reporter: agnes maitland has a long compute to her job as a home health aid. she takes two buss and a subway, spending $10 as long at four hours just getting to and from work. where she makes just $10 an hour. she says she hasn't had a raise in nearly a decade. >> we really struggling.

i mean, struggling real bad in the city. so we need the $15 an hour. because the cost of living gone up. the transportation gone up. food went up, rent went you feel so we need the $15. >> reporter: the fight for 15 started with fast food workers but has expand today include other frustrated low wage earners like agnes her union the service employees international is organize. >> we need to put a demand on the table that is real and that would actually enable to take care of our families and so a lot of groups start today coalesce around the idea of $15 an hour as ebber minimum that today especially in a place like new york. >> reporter: in response to critics mcdonald's announced on april 1st that it is increasing average pay by nearly a dollar to just under $10 an hour for workers at corporate-owned restaurants the workers are saying it's not nearly enough and the raise will only impact a small minority of

mcdonald apt's's employees. so they continue to do battle. rallying on wednesday outside big-name businesses who say they can't afford the increase and will either have to cut jobs or raise prices. >> fifteen dollars an hour sounds reasonable until you realize somebody those pay for. >> reporter: the economy needs entry level jobs like this. >> the vast majority of people start this necessary low paying job moves up to higher paying positions within a few years or many cases one a year. >> reporter: but agnes whose husband lived on a fixed income has been doing her job for 27 years. >> that is the birth he have myth. low wage workers are not fine age i was they are family, mothers, fathers, they are not just teenagers. >> reporter: and like agnes they are willing to take to the streets to make their voices heard. kristen saloomey, al jazerra new york.

now, a sand storm swept through parts of northern china causing blackouts and traffic problems including it the capital beijing where you can see visibility is less than 10 meters in some areas. very brave people braved these scenes. >> today on "talk to al jazeera" jazeera," norman lear , political activist and war veteran. >> who knows, god could be a woman, a president who would help us look in the mirror and see ourselves honestly. >> he is the man behind the iconic is it