Syria's Horrible Civil War; Love In Conflict
GORANI: Russia now said that it was -- it has won the fight against ISIS by a decisive stroke, but the main battle has been brought to its end. The Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says the next target is the rebel group that is group. Russian media report Lavrov made the announcement in a meeting that the leader of Syria's pro-democracy tomorrow opposition movement. Meanwhile the people of Syria are still living with the horror of war on a daily basis. Eight agencies say the first batch of critically ill patients has been allowed to leave Ghouta. Two dozens more expected in the coming days. The U.N. says children are suffering the worst outbreak of malnutrition since the Syria civil war began. The international committee of the Red Cross has helped move people out. Spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk joins me now from Geneva, could you tell us how the evacuations are going. Just paint a picture of the situation in eastern Ghouta.</s>ANASTASIA ISYUK, SPOKESWOMAN, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: Last night the Syrian and my colleagues have indeed started medical evacuation of critically ill people from eastern Ghouta to Damascus. It's the first positive step and we do certainly hope in the coming hours and days we will be able to do more.</s>GORANI: But this area has been besieged for a very long time and we're talking here about a handful of people when many, many more need help, why so few?</s>ISYUK: Indeed. You see in this situation we as the FFC, we play humanitarian role on neutral and impartial grounds. It's the parties to the conflict had to come to an agreement which they have done and we are facilitating it in a purely humanitarian manner. Therefore, we fully understand, and it has been in the eastern Ghouta last time, and it has been clear that the situation is critical and there are any more people who are in need of assistance and overall these people need access to humanitarian aid on a regular basis and we do hope that the parties to the conflict will prioritize the need of Syrians and let it happen.</s>GORANI: You do need an agreement it goes without out saying, but it is an area besieged by the government, is it not?</s>ISYUK: Well, eastern Ghouta is one of those examples where indeed there are different elements in place. Our role is to be able to negotiate with all sides that we our able to fulfill our humanitarian mandate. It shows that they are able to come and evacuate critically ill patients and it's ongoing these days and we hope that it will succeed.</s>GORANI: But you're getting the assistance you need from government authorities to gain to the suburb of Damascus?</s>ISYUK: The moment both sides agreed to the operation and we do certainly hope that they continue to support this operation. As we said the needs are critical, you know people who are affected by diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, they are very vulnerable because they don't have medical supplies. There's also a shortage of food and basic necessities. It's difficult situation. More than difficult. It's a critical situation in eastern Ghouta and we do hope that humanitarian aid can come through.</s>GORANI: Where are they being taken to?</s>ISYUK: The patients who were taken last night were being taken to hospitals in Damascus.</s>GORANI: You describe a critical situation where levels of malnourishment, with disease. Why has it gotten so bad?</s>ISYUK: Well, as we have seen in ix years, it is civilians who pay the price of this conflict. It's true that our appeal to all sides is to put civilians first. It's not the first time we have seen civilians suffer. We do hope that this plea for assistance and the need of the people can be put as an utmost priority to all fighting parties.</s>GORANI: As we mentioned in the beginning, this is still a very all number of people. Have you received any assurances, have you seen any plans that suggest that this could be replicated on a wider scale because the need is so great?</s>ISYUK: As you say it is the first step. We are going along with the separation. We do hope that the sides continue to support it and we do and that we are able to provide lifesaving support to people who need to leave eastern Ghouta, because they have critical medical conditions and otherwise people who are inside could receive humanitarian aid without conditions on a regular basis.</s>GORANI: I know that is your hope, but have you received assurances or seen any plans to suggest this will happen in short order? The time is of the essence here patients.</s>ISYUK: Time is of the absence and it is difficult to talk about assurances at this point when we are in the middle of situation that is happening at the moment. Our focus is for it to come, you know to come to its full success.</s>GORANI: Anastasia thanks so much, joining us from Geneva. The spokesperson for the international committee of the Red Cross. We appreciate your time. However Syria's war plays out now, the scars inflicted on its people will last for generations. Over the border in Iraq that tragic legacy is shared by countless others. Imagine you are one of those victims and that war is a constant in your life. Each time the phone rings you're worried it could be that call, the one that will turn your biggest fears into reality. It will bring out loss, loathing. But maybe when you least expected and it can bring out love. This is the story of Nahla and Aqeel.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To my sweetheart Aqeel, remember the first time we met? I was in black holding the hand of my 7-year-old boy. At that time both him and myself were miserable people after we lost his dad in a bombing. Tens of people were killed on that day. This is not the only reason we miserable. Remember Aqeel how Baghdad is bad at that time and how it entered into an era of violence. The street had turned into cemeteries with dead bodies thrown everywhere. Amongst all of this I was going through a journey of struggle against autism with my son. We felt lonely. We were afraid of losing the fight until you showed up in our life you embraced me with passion, gave me energy to love again. You were a new father. Gave him confidence and took him from childhood to adult hood. I understand the core of love is bigger than individuals and love stories, but it can be expressed tough their experiences. Our story could be one many of my expressing love and its warmth. My love to you will continue forever.</s>GORANI: I absolutely love those stories, you can watch CNN's full feature "Love and conflict" hosted by Christiana Amanpour, catch it on Friday at 1:45 p.m. if you are watching here in London. Still ahead, CNN Jake Tapper runs through the top seven American political stories of 2017. And here's a hint. Most of them involve, guess who President Donald Trump. We'll be right back.