03/05/2014 Reporters

Now on BBC News it's time for Reporters.

Hello and welcome to Reporters. From here, in the world 's newsroom, we

send our correspondence to bring you the best toys from across the

globe. This week: The horrors of Aleppo. Read access to Syria, as our

correspondent sees a city living in danger and fear. Tens of thousands

have fled Aleppo after a campaign of bombing by the government. The

damage is across large swathes of the city and whole neighbourhoods

have been abandoned. Separated at birth by war. Our correspondent

joins the Vietnam veteran reunited with a son who has never met him.

Our correspondent reports on the premature end of Mount Everest's

climbing season after Sherpas are killed. While many of the climbers

might hope to return. For many, this tragedy has meant that their lives

have changed for ever. Inside Tutankhamun's tomb. Or, is it Paz

our correspondent investigates why the War Chechen authorities are

making a replica of one of the most favour `` famous relics. The

conditions have deteriorated. The reason for that is this. Human

breath. It was once known as the jewel of Syria. Now, Aleppo is a

city living in danger. Syria's tripling war has taught it apart.

Killing thousands. Human Rights Watch has accused forces of

terrorising the rebel held city with an indiscriminate war against

civilians. Using crude but deadly barrel bombs thrown from helicopters

from a height of 7000 feet. Ian Pannell and Darren Conway the only

Western broadcasters who have visited the city since last year.

They sent this exclusive report. Engolfed by darkness and fear. The

heart of Syria's biggest city. Life has become so dangerous, drivers

must turn off their lights to avoid attack from above. Even in the dead

of night the war grinds on. The government insists it is protecting

people, targeting terrorists in residential areas. Often, it is

civilians who are hit. Everyone keeps an eye on the sky, looking for

helicopters armed with barrel bombs that art to the ground. `` that are

tossed to the ground. They are indiscriminate and devastating.

Whenever they land, it is the civil Defence Force that comes to the

rescue. ``Civil. Their jobs are as grim as they are dangerous. Rushing

in, sometimes under fire, to free the injured and recover the debt. ``

dead. Barrel bombs are believed to have

killed hundreds in Aleppo this year. Maiming many more.

This video, from the Aleppo media centre, is extraordinary. The

Defence Force desperately claw at debris. A young boy has been buried.

His limbs are freed. It's not clear if he is. Suddenly, there is

movement. A nine`year`old boy is rescued. This was Syria's economic

heartland. Today, it is a decrepit shell of its former self. The

bombardment rarely stops and the emergency team had out again.

TRANSLATION: We are doing this because Alcaig will need help and

rescuing. Someone to lend them at hand. `` because our people. I want

to say civilians. Driving through a maze of streets, residents shout

directions to the bomb site. Underwear, the team had strayed into

a frontline position. `` I'm aware. Government snipers take aim. This is

perhaps the most dangerous job in one of the world 's most dangerous

cities. We were in Aleppo when the fighting started. Today, much of

this vast ancient city has been ravaged by a relentless civil war.

Whole districts by almost abandoned, scarred by a war that has displaced

40% of the population and killed what is thought to be more than

150,000. In the last few minutes, they have been two bomb strikes in

this residential neighbourhood. Much of it has been abandoned. Emergency

services have just arrived. Then from the Defence Force have gone

into this area to find civilians who have been injured or, even worse,

killed. A barrel bombs has landed on the small street. There were no

fighters here, just residents calorie and from a helicopter. It

killed a four`year`old boy and injured several others, including

this woman's husband. `` cowering. TRANSLATION: We heard the first

blast and I asked my husband to get the kids off the street. Suddenly,

it hit us. It was like someone picked me up and threw me inside. Do

you have anywhere to go? TRANSLATION: I have nowhere to go. I

just want my husband back, and nothing else. Tens of thousands have

fled Aleppo this year. Most live in makeshift camps huddled near the

border. There are no signs of an end to this war `` there are no signs.

Syrians feel shunned by what they see as the indifference of the

outside world. Defenceless in the face of incessant attacks. With

little hope of other respite or relief.

Is years since the Vietnam War ended in a humiliating defeat for America.

Thousands of servicemen who fought in the war, left behind children

they fathered them. Now in their 60s and 70s, some veterans are desperate

to find the sons and daughters they have never known. Our correspondent

joined one veteran on his search. April, 1975 and the last Americans

leave Saigon, leaving behind their girlfriends and the tens of

thousands of children they fathered during some 20 years of war. You

have the GI with you when you did this? This man, a 62`year`old former

GI is back in Saigon, looking for his son. He has a photo of his

former girlfriend whom he only knows by the nickname, Brandy. How long

has she been in this area? With an interpreter, he heads for the area

where he shared a house with Brandy. He has the address, but they can't

find it. People explained that when the Vietcong took over, they changed

the street names. They suggest that Jerry goes to a house around the

corner to talk to the son of another GI who is visiting Saigon. They find

this man, the son of an African`American soldier. Do you

remember any American children that had red hair? There is quite a

here, few overhear. Really? They went to school with you? Yes. I only

went to the third grade. This man now lives in New York. He was one of

thousands of the children who, the American government allowed to

settle in America in the 1980s. Gerry continues searching. He shows

his photos to everyone he met. Including the daughter of the woman

who used to be the midwife in the area. Oh my goodness. I remember

her. Do you know why? I sat next to her. I talked to her a lot. Did you

help deliver my baby? Yes, so, you held my baby in your hands? I have a

question. They are hold dual hands? Of course. Because, these hands held

my baby. There is just so much emotion in my heart right now. I may

never see him or touch him. This is as close as I will get. Right here.

Through Kim, Gerry knows his sons surname and he puts the name and the

photos on Facebook `` son's. Two weeks later, a 41`year`old male in

New Mexico recognises the photos online, and copies had been given to

him by his mother. By the time Gerry and rise at the suburb of

Albuquerque, he learns that Brandy was targeted are the Vietcong when

they entered Saigon and like so many of the girlfriend of GIs, she

abandoned her son. Gary and his family are waiting for him. Wow! 30

years. `` there he is. Hello. How are you guys? A hug, to make up for

the last 40 years. It turns out that carry a right in America when he was

eight. Before then, it wasn't easy for him and the other children of

the enemy, as they were called. It was growing up back home, being half

white, half Vietnamese is not fun. I never knew you were a complete

orphan. In my mind, you would have been with your mother. From now on,

neither intends to let the other go. It is an issue affecting many people

around the world. We are living longer. But how do we help an ageing

population live happy and independent lives? Manchester might

be the first city in the world to solve that problem. It has been

recognised as each friendly. Graham Satchell has been there to find out

how they have been making it easier for their senior citizens to live

their lives. Manchester is a vibrant city with a

young population. Surprisingly, it is also the first age friendly city

in the UK. You have got to have eyes all over the place. It's the only

way I can get across here. Tommy is 81. In the centre of town, he is

struggling to cross the world `` cross the road. It is frightening.

You take your life in your hands. For an elderly person who isn't

quick on their feet, probably a little deaf, visually impaired, very

risky! Very, very risky. It's not just getting about that worries

Tommy. One of the worst thing is for elderly people is a lack of toilets.

There is only one toilet in Manchester near the town Hall! As

the population ages, how do you adapt cities to make them age

friendly? Tommy took us is part of Manchester, Whittington. In the

butchers, a chair. That chair. If you have been walking around

shopping, it is nice to have a sit down. At the bus stop, side panels

have been put in to protect against the rain. It was called stood here

are so it is important to have these panels. But in the scheme of things,

it is just a good service. A meeting of the age when the Manchester group

and visitors from Germany and Japan. It may not look much but Manchester

has been listening to people like Tommy and making small changes to

transport, housing, social care, taking account of older people every

policy decision they make. On two of Whittington, the international

delegation sees shops with age friendly stickers and his plans

about the future. `` on a tour. Can Japan learn lessons from Manchester?

Evidently. It is a grassroots approach, based on the reality of

society. They are trying to make it a world`class city, that elderly

people are happy that `` are happy with. A trip to Manchester Art

Gallery. My God! Is that beautiful? This is to get all the people out of

their houses, to counter the effects of isolation and loneliness. Tommy

is here with pans. I go out every day. It has made a big difference.

Without going out, I would be lost. `` Anne. Anne's husband died 18

years ago and she became isolated before becoming involved with the

programme. If I wasn't busy like this, I would be on tablets for this

and that and in hospital because you lose hope. If you aren't doing

things. You have to do things and you have to try things new. Many of

the changes made a small but Manchester is leading the way in its

thinking, its planning, for a world with more and more older people.

Climbers have been returning from Mount Everest base camp this week

after Sherpa guides cancelled this year's climbing season. They served

in memory of the 16 sherpas that died in an avalanche should `` the

short time ago. We met one survivor who witnessed his colleagues die

under the eyes and said he would never return to the mountain.

A wall of ice that swept away everything in its path. It struck

just as Nepal's sherpa guides were planning to brute to prepare for the

season. It was the worst tragedy it had seen. Hundreds tried to scale

the slopes every year. It is the sherpas they depend on to lead the

way. This man was buried under the snow for three hours before he was

rescued. Out of danger, still in shock. He says he has seen his

fellow guides die around him. TRANSLATION: The ice fell on us. It

was so scary. This was my last client. I will never go up Everest

again. In memory of those who died, most of the other guides have

decided that for this year they won't make the client. Groups have

been returning from the mountains base camp. `` makes the climb. Three

years ago I was in a big skiing accident and I couldn't walk

upstairs. Here I am now taking on Everest. I was very much looking

forward to it. Then, to find this was closed, it was an emotional

thing for me. For a country that depend heavily on tourism, this is a

loss in many ways. The climbing season for Mount Everest seems like

it is over this year. While many of the climbers might look to return

another year, for many this tragedy has meant their lives has changed

forever. This woman's husband was one of the sherpas who died. She has

an 11 `month`old baby girl. Both her mother and father now, she tells me.

`` I am both her mother and father. I have to take care of her. I am

helpless. I want the government to give me a job. While she things

about the future of her daughter, it will be hard for her to look back at

the mountains that once gave her life, that have today taken away so

much. From one of Nepal's most popular

tourist destinations to one of Egypt's. A replica of the tomb of

Tutankhamun is to be revealed, to save the real tomb from the wear and

tear that tourist inflict. But will it be happy with a copy?

Correspondent has been given a sneak peek of the Tutankhamun facsimile.

The Valley of the Kings in Luxor contains some of the most famous

burial chambers in the world, but the most celebrated is the tomb of

the Boy King, Tutankhamen, discovered by a team led by Howard

Carter, a British archaeologist, in 1992. `` 1922. For more than 3,000

years, this tomb survived in almost pristine condition. But after nine

decades of tourism, wiht thousands of visitors every day, conditions

deteriorated dramatically and the main reason was this. Human breath.

Since Carter opened the tomb up, the constant changes of humidity and

changes in moisture levels, the airborne pollutants that come in,

they have an effect. Previous attempts at restoration have added

to the problem. So, it was agreed a replica would be created, with the

long`term aim of severely restricting public access to the

original. Laser scanners and 3D`printing were used to make the

facsimile. The backdrop to this has been the

continuing political crisis in Egypt over the last three years. Tourism

in many areas has collapsed. Luxor town centre is deserted and local

traders are desperate. As you see, temples empty. The market is empty,

most of the places are empty. Hotels empty. Every part is empty. We need

tourism more than anything else. Replacing Luxor's star attraction

with a facsimile might be seen as commercial suicide for a town

already on its knees, and initial reaction was rather sceptical. I am

sure other countries would have other replicas if we do this.

Tourists do not need to come any more to see the tomb. The public

will be given a chance to see the original and the facsimile and to

judge for themselves. We were allowed a sneak preview. We took an

Egyptologist down, too. I am sorry, I have to say it is marvellous! This

is just the start of a reappraisal of many of the world's antiquities.

Tourists may now have to get used to visiting replicas instead.

And that is all from Reporters this week. Goodbye for now.