>> a damning u.n. report describes children being burned alive and fighters allowed to rape in south sudan. hello, i'm maryam nemazee. you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up. [ gunfire ] pro government forces in yemen say they have taken control of key areas of the city. but houthi say they're still in control of taiz.

desperate scenes in a greek refugee camp. government hopes to end in two weeks. the u.n. human rights chief has described the conflict in south sudan as one of the most horrendous human rights situations in the world. a damning report describes children and disabled being born alive and fighters being allowed to rape women instead of being paid. >> reporter: rebel and government forces are responsible, but government fighters are more to blame. the report says that armed group have targeted women, children, the disabled, rape and abuse of the helpless have become webs of war. sexual violence was routine and gave one particularly gruesome

example. >> a young man came and talked with the guy who was beating her. stop beating this old lady. gets go and rape some young on ones. >> in 2011 the president accused his vice president of plotting a coup and sacked him. muchar is now leader of the rebel forces and many of the atrocities took place in his home region. >> war crimes were alleged by the u.n. in 2014 and the au. we say that there is sufficient evidence to say that in there is an extreme nature, which we'll get to in a second, but the perpetrator is the government. >> for its part the government denies the accusations and promises actions against atrocities. >> if there are soldiers who come out with human rights, the

government does not authorize anybody to kill civilians. >> tragically all of this is happening despite a peace agreement reached last august, including a cease-fire and transitional government of unity. >> there is talks here of arms embargo if the violence does not end soon. >> pro government forces in yemen say they have taken control of a key city from houthi rebels. at least 60 people were killed in fighting in the southern city of taiz. forces loyal to president abd rabbuh mansur hadi say that it will allow aid into the area for

the first time. let's go to the editor in chief. >> there are major games. you have hundreds of troops on

different sides. right now they're flexing their muscles and there are ups and downs. they have strong abilities. >> can i ask what is behind such a sudden change? because taiz has been we seened for a very long time. it's been under a houthi blockade as pro government forces are making gains now. what's behind that? >> many scenarios. but the closest are the troops who fight long side the houthis. these crops allow them to gain

quick ground. so many different scenarios from the houthi side was robbed. it is not the largest city in yemen. and the backbone of the yemen opposition. the islam party. a defeat in power they're explaining that it is a very fluid situation in the city of taiz right now. pro government forces in yemen have made significant gains around that city. so this is quite an important turn of events becaus because this is at strategic important city in a has been under siege

for months now. we'll stay with the situation there for you. let'the u.n. special envoy to syria said that talks between the government and opposition groups will lay the foundation for elections next year. he's optimistic for a presidential election in the next 18 months. aid groups say that countries like russia and the u.s. are undermining their own commitments to syria by supporting opposite sides of the war. jonah hull reports. it's a grim milestone five years since the start of civil war.

they say that the past year has been the worst yet. the report titled fueling the fire notes that 50,000 people have lost their lives in the past 12 months with a million civilians forced to flee their homes. 200,000 of those homes were partly or completely destroyed in 2015. and around a million and a half are in need of humanitarian aid with an additional 400,000 children no longer in school because of the violence. the report notes failures through the communed. u.n. security council resolutions say they have consistently been flouted by parties to the conflict. and their international backers, including permanent members of the u.s. security couple have

actively added fuel to the fire. they highlight how campaigns have damaged civilian fluster while causing thousands of civilian casualties, bombing by the u.s.-led coalition has similarly noted to cause deaths and damage to civilian areas and international powers are accused of supplying help to opposing forces on the ground. the report notes that a there have been more casualty, but all parties including governments that sit on the u.n. security council bear direct responsibility for the war in syria. jonah hull, al jazeera. >> 90 people who are deemed to

have sought refuge in greece have returned to turkey. most of them from pakistan to more have been september to a detention center. they're working on a deal to send thousands of so-called irregular migrants back to turkey in exchange for the e.u. settling on equal number of refugees from turkey. meanwhile there are 14,000 refugees being held as their journey to mass dean i can't remains blocked. many of the residents also ill with medicines, blankets and firewood all in short supply. >> i cannot even find a safe place. no fighting information.

>> it's difficult with five children. yesterday when it rained my children were soaked. the blankets were soaked. i put them to bed and i haven't slept since. i was a housewife before and my husband was everything to me. now i'm both mother and father at the same time. it's very hard. >> a husband and wife were accused of helping refugees. hundreds of danes face trial for helping refugees in the country. moving to iraq, according to state tv earlier the influential cleric issued an

ultimatum giving hyder al abadi 45 days to form a new government and start tackling corruption. >> demonstrations by supporters are a regular site on the secrets of baghdad. followers are demanding reforms to tackle endemic corruption. they want prime minister hyder al abadi to press on with plans to challenge government patrio patronage. >> we really hope that these reforms. these promises of reforms will be true. i urge iraqi prime minister hyder al abadi to press on with flams to form an cabinet of democrats to fight despite political pressure, to desist. i want the prime minister to continue his reform plan with no fear of political pressure. >> corruption is eating into

defendeling government finances in iraq suffering from the fall in the price of oil and the cost of the war against isil. he gave the prime minister 45 days to appoint the technocrats. >> nearly all 22 members supporting lebanon and iraq expressing reservations. they also took the same action last week. lebanon and hezbollah is a major political player. farmers saying they're worried about the impact of their livelihood. in. >> harvesting green onion is not easy. first they have to loosen the earth around the delicate crop so that when it is picked it is not damaged. the ground is rocky and the work

is time-consuming. the owner said that growing crops like green onion which are destined for gulf countries are worth the care because they're usually profitable, but not any more. >> our industry has been badly affected. we can no longer track our produce through syria and the gulf. the crossings are now closed. more than 30% of our income is gone because of this. >> the only way now to send produce to the gulf is by sea. but the costs are high and cut deep into profits. losing a third of all revenue because of the war in anybodying syria have hit farmers hard. but a growing concern is the escalating diplomatic dispute between political leaders in lebanon and gulf countries.

more than three-quarters of produce are sent to gulf states, which has farmers worried. last month the saudi government canceled billions of dollars. shortly afterwards the gulf cooperation council gcc declared hezbollah a terrorist organization. the group is lebanon's most political social movement, now they believe their industry could the targeted next. >> it's lebanon's exports are banned it could be a disaster to our agriculture sector. no one can estimate how destructive the affect would be on farmers, the economy and in lebanon generally. >> the obama administration is pressuring saudi arabia and it's gulf allies not to take further steps to punish lebanon further. all they can do now is care for their crops.

>> more to come on al jazeera. a vaccine could become too expensive for children who need it most. and why africa art could be the next big thing for collectors.

>> the only live national news show at 11:00 eastern. >> we start with breaking news. >> let's take a closer look. >> welcome back. we have the top stories for you. the u.n. reports both sides of the south sudan war has been targeting civilians for rape and pillage.

government forces in yemen say they have taken control of the city of taiz. the city had been under siege by houthi rebels for 10 months. they say russia, france, the u.k. and the u.s. are undermining their own commitments by supporting opposite sides in the war. now it's been five years since the earthquake and sum killed 18,000 people in japan. a moment of silence was held at the moment the quake hit. we have reports from one of the worst-hit areas. >> this is the closest thing to high ground. a mound built 96 years ago so residents of this coastal town could look out to sea. five years on its become a place of remembrance. it was the aerial footage broadcast live that first showed the scale of the disaster unfolding in japan.

950 people died here nearly 18,500 across the country. >> it was there at 2:46 precisely that they gathered to mark the moment the earthquake struck. [ sirens ] 50 kilometers north and another community marked the same moment the same way. sounding the tsunami sirens. >> the reality is that we still feel the scars here and there are still many who are struggling to restart their lives.

the national memorial in tokyo a similar sentiment came from those forced from their homes from the nuclear meltdown in fukushima. >> efforts are being made to improve the situation, but my heart breaks at the thought there are still people who cannot return home. >> for all the reconstruction elsewhere and the prime minister is promising a revitalized five-year effort to get it finished, the areas at fukushima have changed little. therthe efforts are hampered by a shortage of people willing to do the job. even if conditions are better than what he faced in the weeks after the meltdowns. >> i think what i felt most was anxiety. when i got there i thought my experience would be useful. but all the rules that i used to abide by became completely

irrelevant. it was like a war zone and that astonished me. >> there is a sense of renewal. higher sea walls built and mine myselfing damage for future waves. but scars still remain. a day of commemoration of coming together can bring some comfort, but it also serves as a reminder of how much has been lost. >> donald trump has received its backing before bid for the united states with an endorsement from a former rival. ben carson, who dropped out of race a week ago has appeared together with trump in-for-to show his support that's despite the bitter clashes i in the early stages of the campaign. >> funerals are taking place of nancy reagan, ateenees including

current first lady michelle obama, former president bush and actor mr. t was there, too. he worked with mrs. reagan on the anticipate drugs campaign in the 1980s. doctors without borders are opposing the attempt to top the vaccine that prevents pneumonia. iit cost $170 per child. but an indian company has offered to supply it for $6. the charity wants to sto to allow other companies to make cheaper versions of the drug. doctors without borders say that patents like this need to be stopped for the benefit of

developing countries. >> i think standing up for our patients. and india is under i a immense pressure for backing the companies. we stepped in to say that we'll stand up for our patience. we may not have the money, but of course we'll fight for our patience. we'll go to the patent office and present our technical case. it is important for patent offices to know that they're making decisions which will make a difference between life and death this is really important. more often than not patent offices are turning into commercial offices and it's time that patent offices realize they can change any entire public health system. >> elsewhere in india the organizers of a major cultural festival has been fined for causing environmental damage.

we have reports from new delhi. >> despite the occasional rain the crowd still came out in droves. it's organizers are calling this the biggest cultural festival of its kind. the world cultural festival was taken from four kilometers. these are the first of millions to attend from around the world and close to home. >> but it's also attracting controversy. >> how can you actually have a seven-ager stage constructed on the site without really making holes, drilling into that flat plan plain. that's not friendly at all. and it's not ecofriendly.

>> as with many major rivers in india, the ecosystem has already been damaged from pollution. resembling a sewer at some point. but the organizers insist there is no permanent damage. in the lead up to the event india's national tribunal blamed organizers for causing damage to the environment but still allowed the event to go ahead. >> this stage itself is 330,000 meters. this venue has been belt for the 733 million people expected to attend. organizers say they're only using ecofriendly materials and insist they have not broken any laws and say the event will help bring awareness and protect the river. but some environmentalists disagree. >> an environmental expert who has assessed the potential impact said that damage has been done.

>> to the extent that it may be difficult to bring it back to its original state. >> organizers will have to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it may take to clean up the river banks and restore the ecosystem, a process which could take years. as the show goes on critics worry that this may set a dangerous precedent for environmentally sensitive areas across india. al jazeera, new delhi. >> interest in african art is growing in the u.s. and europe. auctioneers in london say that there has been a 200% rise in the value of african art. but not every artist is making big money. >> the international art auctioneer has been selling african art. one of the best known paintings,

the black arrow, sold for close to $1.5 million, and another contemporary artworks for $400,000. >> the contemporary art market is a tiny bit fickle in the sense that the decline of the chinese art market they have moved onto the next big and new area and at the moment africa is the area they're focusing on. >> the value of african art continues to rise as more pieces from south africa, seneca and ghana are seen on the international market. only 5% of artists produce work that is commercially viable. south african art has dominated international sales providing an opportunity for the larger african markets. taking documentary photos for 20 years. some of them are exhibited here in the johannesburg art gallery. he said he's inspired by the artist who was able to support himself entirely through his artwork.

he saw struggles to get his own photography which documents communities and their environments recognized as art making it difficult for him to survive on his art alone. >> i think it can be done in a sense in south africa that we're fortunate. >> group friends of the johannesburg art gallery said that it's up to artists who develop themselves. >> it's really people who expect to be give a hand up. people who expect--where things come too easily, that's who will have a problem. there are many artists in the world who never get to the top.

>> africa's art market still remains an exclusive club. >> we have more on everything that we're covering right here al jazeera. www.aljazeera.com. many have serious mental illness. all of them are old. and a few will never get out alive.