ings you a first hand look at the environmental issues, and new understanding of our changing world. >> it's the very beginning >> this was a storm of the decade >>...hurricane... >> we can save species... >> our special month long focus, fragile planet saudi arabia says it will provide the $274 million needed by the u.n. to give emergency assistance to yemenis. hello. welcome to al jazeera live from doha. also coming up in the program, isil claims responsibility for a car bomb attack near the u.s. consulate in iraq. xenophobia spreads as antiforeigner protests rock south africa. returning to everest a year

after tragedy. the backbone of if henepal's climbing community calls for a better deal. the king of saudi arabia is calling for humanitarian aid to be sent to yemen, $274 million. that's the exact amount asked for by the united nations to give emergency help to yemenis who have been hit by the three-week long war. the saudi-led coalition of arab countries has been carrying out air strikes against houthi rebels and their allies. >> we hope everyone will respect the aid operations the houthi militias when they went from the airport to the hospitals, they tried to disturb the aid operations and we call for

everybody else to respect and observe all the channels that are open for contact and coordination. the world food program meanwhile is saying the grave situation is making it really difficult to reach people who are in desperate need. >> we have information of about 2 million people who are extremely vulnerable at the moment. we have food trucks that could reach out to about 300,000 people in the coming days. right now distributions are taking place in aden we've had them done for about 200,000 people in aden. however, the security situation is so grave that the people who are out in distributions are finding it very difficult to reach out to those communities who need it. there are people who are displaced even living under trees because their houses and shelters are no more existent.

iran's president has addressed the nation during the celebration of the country's national army day. during an address in at the ran, he spoke about the ongoing conflict in yemen and criticized the air strikes in yemen saying the country will harvest the hatred it's sowing in yemen. >> the other nations should learn from the iranian army. they should not attack children old people women in yemen. attacks on the innocent are a disgrace for the aggressors. >> we can go live now to our correspondent who is in saudi arabia very close to the border of yemen. let's have a look at this $274 million pledge of humanitarian assistance coming from saudi arabia meeting

exactly the amount that the u.n. had requested. >>reporter: yes, it can't come at a more urgent time than now for many of the yemenis. saudi arabia is trying to send a message that it is not in yemen only to destroy or defeat its enemies or the people who saudi arabia sees as dangerous for yemen and also for saudi arabia itself. so it is sending a message by which it is saying we are here also for the yemeni people and it is an attempt to win the hearts and minds at the crucial moment when there is a war in a country and people are divided around sectarian lines. it's a very important gesture according to many people and particularly those yemenis can see what the world food program has just said conceded that yemen even before this crisis was the poorest country in the world and the arab region. about 12 million people in yemen

already live in poverty. about 7.5 million yemenis have food shortages even before the start of this conflict so it is very crucial but difficulties are -- difficulties abound in this respect because as you heard them talking about the difficulties saying that everybody should cooperate. the problem is not just money. the problem is how to make sure it reaches people in need for that help. >> absolutely. i was going to ask you whether the saudis have offered any kind of practical advice or practical initiatives as to how to get assistance to the yemenis. for instance are they prepared for a humanitarian pause in their air strike >> yesterday the spokesman of the coalition asked everyone to cooperate in this respect. however, what we see now is money being given to the u.n. meaning a lot of bureaucracy and procedures before this money can

actually be translated to relief supplies to the people. we have seen cases during the last few days when the saudis tried to air drop some relief supplies to people but it did not in every case reach people in need and there were complaints in aden and other areas saying these drops actually went to the wrong side. >> okay. thank you very much indeed. we'll be talking throughout the day to our correspondent there in saudi arabia. meanwhile, the saudi-led coalition is continuing its air strikes against the houthi positions. the headquarters of former president saleh has also been destroyed. >>reporter: three weeks into saudi-led coalition war against houthi rebels it's been a similar story every day. on friday columns of smoke rose over an arms depot targeted by war planes east of the capital.

the facility belonged to the republican guard which remains legal to deposed president saleh. strikes have also targeted presidential palace as well as military areas in city >> we reject the houthis. we will not leave here except victorious and we will die fighting. we are willing to sacrifice our money and all our belongings to defend our land. >>reporter: the united nations says about 150,000 people have been driven from their homes and more than 750 people have been killed. across the country, at least 50 public buildings have been partially or completely destroyed. eight hospitals hit, and 17 educational institutions have also been destroyed. the countries main power station

and the airport have also been damaged as well as bridges, factories, farm land and mosques. now, to explosions in the eastern afghan city of jalalabad outside of a bank. a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near the gate of the branch. at least 50 people were injured in that last and an hour later another bank was tar getsed just 60 meters away a third bomb exploded outside a shrine. >>reporter: that's right. the interior ministry saying it could have been much worse. they found and detonated two

other suicide motorcycles laiden with explosives which could have caused even more injured as you said. at least 33 killed in that blast. among the dead are two men who were married just last week. brothers who celebrated their weddings just last week. the streets literally littered with bodies this morning. a very brutal attack in eastern afghanistan. >> and targeting civil servants and government employees going to collect their monthly salary. >>reporter: that's right. we've seen this before the kabul bank is often a target for fighters here because it is the bank that pays civil servants policemen, security a very big concern here in afghanistan right now. the parliament right now voting on ministers for ghani's government. he's been president for six months but still doesn't have a complete cabinet in place. only eight of 25 are in place. there's still no nominee for the minister of defense and of

course that's a crucial position for security here. >> and perhaps the most difficult job in afghanistan today. no one so far having claimed responsibility jennifer? >> that's right. not only has no one claimed responsibility we spoked to the taliban spokesman who specifically denied the taliban was involved in the attack. a very brazen attack in the heart of a busy city in the middle of morning rush hour. >> all right. thank you for that jennifer glass. meanwhile, in the southeast of the country, five men have been beheaded. they were kidnapped wednesday and they were bodies were later found. they're from an ethnic minority community which is often targeted. no group has claimed responsibility for their deaths either now, the united states has condemned a car bomb attack which went off close to its consulate in iraq's kurdish

territory. the blasts kill at least three people but the u.s. is saying that no consulate staff were harmed. isil has claimed responsibility. meanwhile, in western iraq isil fighters have prepared to take the entire city of rhamadi. this is video of a military jet flying over suspected isil positions in rhamadi. thousands of civilians have fled in the last few days because of fighting lots more to come here at al jazeera including christians in iraq racing to save some of their religion's oldest and most sacred artifacts. ed artifacts.

>> part of al jazeera america's >> special month long evironmental focus fragile plan

hello again. the king of saudi arabia is ordering $274 million worth of humanitarian aid be sent to yemen. that's the exact amount asked for by the u.n. to give emergency help to yemenis hit by the three-week long war. two explosions in the eastern afghan city of jalalabad has killed at least 33 people and injured dozens more. the first bomb exploded outside

a bank where government employees collect their salaries the u.s. is condemning an isil car bomb attack next to its consulate next to its consulate in kurdish territory. the christians in iraq are now racing to save some of their religion's oldest and most sacred artifacts. thousands of manuscripts were stolen last year by isil fighters. >>reporter: winding through the hills in northern iraq one of christianty's most sacred sites comes into view. this is a monastery once home to a line of christian leaders who governed part of ancient mess approximate tamemesopotamia

mesopotamia. >> this place is so so important to iraq and christianty. >>reporter: the kurds who in the 18th century ransacked this place are now protecting it. this monastery is made up of a series of caves. it's been carefully preserved. very few come here anymore because of the threat on their door step. isil has set out to destroy christianty in iraq and wants the world to know about it. in mosul, churches linked to the very first apostles have been destroyed. what little was saved has been moved between churches and is being closely guarded in secret locations across iraq. >> they came and said you have just five minutes and i take my

clothes, this and my passport and these five books and this. >>reporter: we tracked down the arch bishop of mosul who agreed to show us some of what he saved. >> this is matthew. >>reporter: this bible is handwritten in aramaic. >> this is the name of the father the son, and the holy spirit. >>reporter: losing this history he says has been a loss of dignity. >> they sleep in the streets and isis takes everything. >>reporter: and in another monastery, friar gabriel goes further. >> if it continues like this it is a judgment for all the iraq people's history and culture if we accept this all of the people of iraq and the history and culture will be murdered. if we let this happen it will be our destiny.

so it's in your hands to help or lead these people. >>reporter: and if that call continues to go unanswered he says the legacy of the first people of this country will be wiped out. antiterrorism detectives are questioning five teenagers about an isil-inspired plot in ausa. they're suspected of trying to attack -- first world war for veterans in mel borne next week. >> there were a series of raids. five people were arrested. we're expecting three to be charged. two will be charged with preparing a terrorist act. the act that we believe that was in preparation involved attacks against police officers. >> the foreign minister has

flown to at the ran where she discussed the threat of isil and the issue of iranian asylum seekers with her counterpart. ausa is one of many countries hoping to profit from the lifting of sanctions against iran. andrew promise reports from sidney. >>reporter: ausa sees itself as a food export power house. it already sells meat and crops around the world. iran is a great untapped market and ausa wants to position itself to take advantage knowing other countries won't be far behind. that's why ausa's foreign minister has come here to iran to support a framework deal. here's is likely the first of many trips by politics seeking to renew ties with at the ran. >> iran was a major trading partner for ausa before the sanctions regime and of course things have changed but there is enormous potential in terms of trade. >>reporter: iranian ausaens welcome the trip but they and

organizations like human rights watch are calling for bishop to raise iran's treatment of its citizens during her visits. >> the minister can advocate for more respect for human rights and freedom of speech and freedom of expression and social justice in iran and that would be something that would stop people from leaving country and coming to ausa. >>reporter: of nearly 40,000 asylum seeker who is traveled by boat to ausa between 2009 and 2013 about a quarter came from iran.

>> for the iranians it's a relatively minor issue set they understand it's a domestic political issue. iran understands sending messages. it's more about sending a message. >>reporter: it's unlikely any agreements will be formalize on this trip. it's chiefly about laying the groundwork for the future. julie bishop has been on a whistle stop tour of asia europe and the middle east. iran is just a stop over on her way home but it is significant. one ausa hopes will bring it an early mover advantage. south africa is appealing for diplomatic support from other african countries to end attacks against migrants. the south african government is accused of failing to protect foreign workers. >>reporter: this is a siouxzulu war

chant. these people must go and commit crimes back where they come from but they don't. what does that mean? is that right for the government. those in government are just worried about themselves and not us. we're not going to allow this to happen. >>reporter: fear is spreading in south africa. i'm in downtown and it's been seeing the worst violence certainly here today. these men behind me are locals. they've been burning tires, there's a burnt out vehicle here as well as quite a heavy police presence. now, the men that we've spoken to have vowed to kick the foreigners out of this area. earlier police used bullets and tear gas to keep the locals and foreigners apart. this is one of two car workshops

owned by nigerians that was set on fire. the government has promised to put an end to the fighting. the police are investigating text messages allegedly inciting hate against foreigners. there is fear and increasing anger among foreigners here. >> we can't continue to live like this. the government has to give us a chance. >>reporter: ethiopia's prime minister is one of a number of african leaders who have condemned the violence. >> as africans we all feel we have contributed for the liberation of south africa.

so africa should come together and should live everywhere they want to live. of course based on the specific country. >>reporter: no matter what the politicians here and across africa say, there's little to stem the fear among migrants in south africa today. let's go to the live scene now in palermo. obviously a big italian port where the latest number of migrants has just stopped. there are red cross officials there handing out assistance to this latest batch of people who braved that perilous journey across the mediterranean. let's go to zimbabwe because many are in south africa 'em broiled in that situation where

a lot of south africans are attacking foreigners. they're there looking for employment because they don't have jobs at home. >>reporter: he's an outspoken critic of the president and he's been missing for 40 day. the government has denied having anything to do with his disappearance. his family is suspicious. >> if someone dies you know they're dead and you bury them. that gives you closure in a way. but in this particular case instance we really reasonably prudent person finding it hard to deal with this predicament.

>>reporter: some can't believe people can still disappear seemingly without a trace. >> the abduction is repugnant, it's something that is disgusting. it's supposed to be a democracy, to be free and to have adopted a new constitution with a bill of rights that should be respected. >>reporter: freedom of speech and human rights are not the only things on the minds of voters. employment, a tax on foreign migrants is worrying. but despite the violence people still cross the border with south africa out of desperation. after 35 years of independence from british colonial rule they don't take the freedom for granted but they say they don't feel like celebrating when they're struggling to find work and look after their families.

a year ago, an avalanche killed 16 climbers on mount everest. many families remain devastated.

>>reporter: she's surrounded here's with pictures of her husband's picture who died last year in an avalanche on mount everest. >> i still can't believe it. it's hard to come to terms when you have not seen the body. his body was never found. >>reporter: the couple's youngest child is just 19 months old and the oldest is 6. >> i'll make sure think children are very educated. i will never make them work on the mountain. i've had enough. i grew up without a father. i know what it is like to be fatherless. my children are now fatherless. >>reporter: the avalanche was the worst single disaster ever on the mountain. it attracted a lot of attention on how sherpas are treated. the government's original $400 compensation was taken as an insult. a year on the government and climbers have been forced to

recognize the value of these men who form the backbone of the industry. yielding to the pressure the government finally gave the families of the victims $15,000 compensation. from this year on their insurance provision has also been increased. a new route has been explored to avoid avalanches. >> it's not just about increasing salary and insurance. the government has to check if there's enough technical manpower to go up the mountain and if training standards and quality are being upheld as well. >>reporter: everest is open for

business again. over 30 teams have already set off for base camp. once again, the staff are laying the ropes to guide the foreign clients. and now that the debate over pay and conditions is in the open climbing on the mountain may be entering a new era, the era of industrial labor relations. [ ♪♪ ] this week on "talk to al jazeera", legendry music composer david foster . >> so mid '070, i guess i seriously. david foster has been nicknamed the hitman, a violent for many records collaborating with many big names in the industry. there's one