♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors advice to help you live your life. life well planned. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news".

>> hello, you are wae context. >> lost a love one who has been -- had a home that is damaged or destroyed will get help immediately. >> schools were destroyed, busisses, homes, a church was destroyed. it is going to take years. >> 23 people have lost since last night 23 people's lives and i feel like we are not getting the help we need. ♪ >> good evening, thank you for joining us. is strader -- a tragedy unfolding in the pacific at least -- people have died in wildfires in hawaii.

also on the show, can the taliban be tried for crimes against humanity for their treatment of women and girls. former prime minister and current -- gordon brown tellss he believes they can. and a deadly outbreak of the feline coronavirus. thousands of ca have died. now veterinarians are dispensing human anti-covid bills to stop the spread -- pills to stop the spread. -- and diverse mother and daughter headed into space. ♪ >> first, the latest in a series of extreme weather events around the world that experts say have been made more likely by climate change. firefighters continue to batter -- battle wildfires in hawaii. at least 36 people have been killed. on the island of maui had -- it has largely been burned to the ground. president biden has declared a

major disaster releasing federal funding for the people in the county of maui. -- let's look at web president biden had to say in the last few minutes. >> i want to say something about the 36 lives claimed in the wildfires in maui. we have declaration of the state of emergency for hawaii which will get aid into the help -- into the hands of those who need help. to anyone who has lost a loved one or whose home has been destroyed or damaged, they will get help immiately. and i say that we express support to our emergency workers working around-the-clock the clock risking their lives. i just got off the phone before i got here with a long conversation with governor joe screen this morning. making sure the state has

everything it needs from the federal government to recover. the fema will be in miami to -- maui tomorrow. and i directed her to streamline any process and request for help. survivors -- should have assistance without delay. fema is serving disaster assistance personnel on the island and they will help them get access to assistance. anybody who wants to know out there where to go, if this is televised, they can go to disaster assistance.gov. disaster assistance.gov to learn if you are for assistance. and all federal assets are available on the island including the u.s. coast guard, the third fleet, and the army. and there's emergency response crews along with the hawaiian national guard. we are working as quickly as possible to it out the fires,

evacuate residents and tourists. in the meantime, our prayers are with the people of hawaii, but not just the prayers, every asset we have will be available as we see fixing their homes and businesses destroyed. some of them lost loved ones and it is not over yet. >> president biden speaking a short while ago. we been taking a close look at the scale of the fires and the disrupt -- destruction. reporter: a paradise lost. the hawaiian island of maui more dante's inferno. >> oh my gosh, look at t harbor. reporter: a pilot use to ferrying tourists over a magical landscape. >> oh my god. reporter: watching beaches turn black. >> this looks like baghdad or something. reporter: the high-speed in the historic city of maui, shops and livelihoods burned. explosions as petrol stations

and anything combustible ignites in the ferocious eat. -- heat. >> this is not even the worst of it. we will have dead bodies floating in the water and on the seawall. it has been there since last night we been pulling people out since last night. trying to save peoples lives. i feel like we are not getting the help we need. >> we woke up this morning and got on the phones to pictures of our house just slammed. nothing left. reporter: and here is another picture. this, a satellite image of latina taken last month. and this image taken just yesterday. a holiday snap fr hell. >> we understand the hawaiian home lands were destroyed, schools were destroyed, many of the businesses, it is going to take years. reporter: years to fix a broken land.

with the specter of climate change and -- and ever present danger. host: let's bring in our washington correspondent who has been looking into president biden's efforts to help hawaii. it is good to see you. tell us more about what the president's declaration means. reporter: president biden declared a major emergency. this unlocks federal funds in aid to the recovery effort. it puts money into the hands of those who really need it. he said they will prioritize those who lost loved ones, those who have lost their homes. this really was and has been a catastrophic situation on maui. ose fires were fast, they were destructive, they were deadly. eyewitnesses -- some of the testimony quite distressing. talk of just having minutes to leave their homes. once had the fire storm was so fast that he doused himself with

water and tried to run to the sea but his rubber slippers were melting as he ran. another who lost his home talked of seeing bodies floating in the seaboard nearby. the harbor, the number of 36 reported dead is expected to rise. you know, the efforts to contain the fires are still ongoing. president biden has said all -- sent all federal assets in the area will help you because there are a number of military bases in hawaii.. there is a naval base and what of the fleets in the area. the army, national guard, coast guard as well now assisting with local authorities. at one time they said 100 firefighters are on the ground to try to contain the blazes. there are difficulties with communication, some of the cell phone networks haveeen down. there's talks of people sleeping in their cars. thousands have been evacuated to shelters. thousands more are being

evacuated off the island. tourists are being assisted to get home. others who were planning to go to the area which is a big tourist destination are being asked to not had their. local authorities say that the damage will take months to assess but they already say it could run into the billions. host: thank you for that update. let's go to maui now and we can speak to a meteorologist and resident of the island. thank you for joining us in what is a very difficult time with. we understand you and your family had to flee. tell us about that. >> it was tuesday morning around 1:00 a.m. i woke up to the smell of smoke. thats not uncommon on the island of maui, we have strong wind, there was a red flag warning posted. i am a meteorologist and i had actually just reported on it just the day before. we knew that there was low humidity, high winds, lots of

dry brush and all it would take is a little spark to make a fire spread very quickly. in the past, we are dealing with one fire and for the most part those fires tend to happen in the uninhabited part of maui through the central valley because that is where the wind is the strongest. unfortunately, with this passing to the south and high-pressure to the north the pressure gradient brought as high win. we were expecting 60 miles per hour gusts but we got 80 mile per hour gusts. that is what the issue was. we had power lines going down, when they go down, they spark. obviously, there is no official cause of the fire because investigations have not yet than done, but from witnesses that is what we understand. the first fire started in lahaina it started to spread down the mountain. and toward my subdivision.

my subdivision was actually the very first subdivision to get evacuated. we got a phone call at 3:00 a.m., i was trying to sleep from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. just smelling the smoke and thinking it is probably far away. it wasn't. at 3 a.m., we got a call get out. that was our neighbor calling and the sky was red. so i grabbed my three children and i have also the child of a friend staying with us, i grabbed all four kids, threw them in the car, drove past fire trucks. police officers were doing door-to-door evacuations. it was really scary. host: i can imagine that must have been a harrowing experience. tell us how things are at the moment. how are people coping? >> i think we are all in a state of shock. if you are not in a state of shock, you are in a state of mourning at this point. a lot of people have lost their homes and that was already hard enough, but now hearing the

number continue to rise and knowing that now we start to hear stories coming out of lahaina that people were running for their lives literally. and knowing that there are people who are not as mobile. there are people who are bedridden. i am hearing stories of a husband running in help is bedridden wife and couldn't get there in time. couldn't get her out. just had to run. he has burns. i'm hearing stories of young lady who ran literally ran out of her home and had to jump over the seawall into the water and spent seven hours in the water waiting to be rescued. and she felt like she was getting hyperthermia to the point where she would approach anything that was on fire to help to keep her warm. these are the stories that are coming out of lahaina we anticipate the number will rise.

and when you look at the photos and images of how many homes were taken and you know how quickly the fire moves through, it is looking really grim. we are all really sad. host: it is a terrible tragedy. we are looking at pictures right nows you speak of the destruction. what do people in maui need right now? >> well, we want to stay in mahal. we appreciate the love we field -- feel from around the world and the nation. we could use monetary donations to the right organizations. so a community foundation is a reputable organization, maui united way, maui food bank those would be my top three and maui rapid response is currently joining people who want to help. so whether that is services, money, donations with people who need the help. they are currently working on a

website maui rapid response.org. and it should have all of that information. right now there is a google doc that you can go and fill out and say i want to -- i just got a dm from a friend on instagram, i want to help with school supplies for children. they will take that in and connect the dot. host: that is important information. thank you so much. we wish you and your family and everyone in the community safety in this very difficult time. >> thank you. host: around the world and across the u.k. this is bbc news. let's look now at some other stories making news. the uk's biggest were just lender is cutting interest rates on some of its mortgage deals tomorrow. how they say they are producing rates to 9.7 percentage points and able cut rates across a range of products. -- some aimed at first-time buyers. the home secretary said that the

responses from the disorder witnessed on london's oxford street area should be hunted down and locked up. nine people were arrested following the incident after social media videos encourage people to turn up and caused disruption in one of london's busiest shopping areas. and holiday bookings in july for travel in august have more than quadrupled according to the advantage travel partnership which represents 20% of tral agents. heavy rain in parts of the u.k. has led to this rise in the bookings. with vacationers hoping to catch summer sunshine abroad instead. you're watching bbc news. now to afghanistan. as a country nears the second anniversary of the withdrawal of the u.s. led coalition and the -- take ovethat followed. according to the human rights watch restrictions on afghan women and girls have become more extreme since then. last month they ordered hair and

beauty salons to close. chris truly girls and women cannot access secondary higher education. now the former british time -- prime minister and -- global education gordon brown is calling on international criminal court to prosecute those behind the roles for crimes against humanity. we spoke to mr. brown earlier today. >> you called the situation facing women and girls probably the most heinous, vicious, and abuse of women's rights taken around the world today. what have women and girls in afghanistan told you about their lives? >> they are living a terrible life because they have been denied education. they've been denied the opportunity to walk in public places. mo -- most recently they been blocked from visiting cemeteries of love ones. they been prevented from getting jobs.

more recently girls in medical classes have been prevented from taking exam so they cannot qualify. and the tightening up of these dressing restrictions and other restrictions -- to the ministry of ascension -- it shows how deep and intense this violation of human rights is. that is why because i think it is general discrimination. that is what they you known -- we need to international criminal court -- to investigate. it is a crime against humanity. -- religious clerics are behind us and they are hoping to get a change of policy as quickly as possible. host: you said they will publish a legal opinion in the next couple days but why your you confident th gender discrimination would be considered a crime against humanity? >> all the experts have lked at it and some of the opinions already existing they that when you are looking at crimes

against individual rights and gender discrimination or gender persecution as it is so called, it is something that is thought to be taken into account when you look at crimes against humanity. girls are basically being prevented from living anything approaching a normal life. there are many girls and women who stood up against this and some have been tortured, some have been arrested, some have been in prison. the leader of the biggest ngo supporting women in education is now in prison and has been for some months. i don't believe there's any doubt that we have something approaching a crime that the international criminal court should and guess to gate -- investigate. they did take action by seeking a mandate against putin from removing children from ukraine to russia. there is a president for dealing with crimes against young people. host: you said y would also consider sanctions for example against individuals in the taliban government responsible

for these policies. even if they are were to be a prosecution and sanction against ese individuals, this is a regime of course that has been fully implementing this policy. how do we know that they would change the gender discrimination facing afghan women and girls? >> i think the reason that we want sanctions against individuals the ministry of education, ministry of justice and so on is to round the point that we hold them directly responsible for the abusive violation of girls rights. you know the biggest change that could happen is not just the pressure victims were judicial action, but the delegations that you go to -- go to afghanistan paicularly from the muslim majority countries where they can show the religious clerics and the politician that there is nothing in islam that dictates that girls should be denied education. and indeed all the other islamic country girls are being educated.

it is important from muslim to muslim that it is understood that the interpretation made by clerics about what is justifiable in terms of banning education is something that is totally against the religious values that islam represents. the change that were going to see her for going to see it is the pressure from judicial action and the pressure from the muslim majority countries. i do think their intervention -- they made it clear they are against what the afghan government is doing. but eventually at a higher level with delegation to afghanistan talking to the clerics could make a difference. host: it would take part in such a delegation and how regional governments expressed the willingness to take -- carry out a mission? >> the government of the middle east qatar, and saudi and others have been much involved in the discussions. they made clear the policy carried by the afghan government. there have been some delegations reached in qatar -- where they

send delegation to afghanistan. britain has sent delegation. there is some dialogue taking place, but we've got to get it through to people that right around the world there is nothing worse happening to girls than what is happening to girls in afghanistan. if we allow this to continue, there will be far too little international opposition to this, we have not done enough to make it clear this is unacceptable. and if we allow this and afghanistan, then you create the president in 2023 where this will hapn in other countries. it is important not just for afghanistan girls, but for girls and women around the world that you take this action now. and i've been surprised by how little national attention has been given to the plight of afghan girls we know they are facing such difficulties. host: with the possibility of a delegation, mr. brown. if there were to be a delegation and successful in this mission, convincing taliban leaders to allow women and girls to be

educated, they would presumably be more funding for the. education of women and girls how can you be certain that the funding is provided for that purpose? >> there has been funding made available some time ago. this was for the various organizations that were giving education to girls in afghanistan. as you know, there are underground schools. there was funding given to that. there's a lot of internet learning taking place and a lot of funding in international development with that. the girls leaving the country in pakistan and they deserve support for their education to despite the fact that pakistan itself has a need of resources for the floods that have happened to them. there are various ways that we can show that girls can get education even if the taliban government is trying to prevent that. what i think is happening in afghanistan is there is a split between the different sanctions in the government and the religious community. i know that many want to restore the right to education, but

these religious edicts are preventing them from doing so. and i hope by these delegations going to afghanistan will reach the taliban and the religious leaders and show them that we can get education through anyway. that we will cease this attempt -- the closing down of the world and preve the one group of girls that have been totally denied education at secondary level and many at university level and give them the right to go to school. and remember they have the right for 20 years. they know what it is like to have a chance for education and to think freely. and the regime can prepare -- suppress people for some time but it will not repress girls forever. host: you mentioned the schools in the grave danger that the teachers and students face. how prevalent is this right now ? >> there are some provinces in afghanistan as i understand that that the edex of the religious leaders are not being so forcibly imposed as other parts.

there is funding available through a number of different organizations for people who have been running schools outside of the traditional schooling precincts. that is something that means that girls are able to continue their learning. especially those who started their learning and those who at the time move from primary to secondary school are told that they cannot be at school anymore. that is something that is offering a number of chances, but of course, we are talking about 2 million, three milon girls being denied education. and they are coming from primary school each year. these are millions of girls where the future of afghanistan -- to destroy half of your future by denying girls education is something we will not approve to the taliban regime is completely counterproductive. i have said before, we should be prepared to fund the education of the girls as long as it is not restrictive in any way by the taliban area that means that we should be prepared to provide

resources even though we do not officially recognize the afghan government or in britain's case have an embassy that is working at the moment. host: you mentioned an estimated 3 million girls about to complete their primary education facing no possibility for education going forward. what happens to these girls if they don't have any education? >> the problem as we know is that forced early marriage. that is something that is to be avoided if we cans of that girls have the proper chance to develop the potential without being forced sometimes into marriages that they would never choose to have and certainly they are too young to be married and really round the world. it is not just in afghanistan, we think the problem of human slavery. girls forced into marriage, girls and boys horse into labor -- forced into labor in terrible and intolerable conditions. these are aspects of slavery we have to outlaw is soon as

possible. in afghan in particular, i would worry about girls forced out of education and then forced into early marriage. that means the future is decided for them and it is not a good future at all. host: you are surprised by the lack of international attention on this issue. what is your message to the international community as to why it is so important to ensure this education does go forward? >> because of we do not stand up for the rights of girls and women in afghanistan, where they are being systematically comprehensively and deliberately violated by the government, it is not an accident. it is not something that is a traditional measure. it is something that is now deeply rooted in the system that the taliban are imposing. if we do not stand up for girls rights and women's rights in afghanistan, the same thing that happened in other countries. host: thank you for watching. we will be back in just a moment. ♪

narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors advice to help you live your life. life well planned. narrator: funding was also provideby, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news".