• In Beirut at least 157 dead and 5 thousand injured. Italian military wounded: very loud, indescribable roar
  • Explosions in Beirut: the European satellite shows damage over 4 square kilometers
  • Destruction and death in Beirut, the testimony of witnesses: "It was hell"

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06 August 2020A 92-year-old Italian citizen died in the Beirut explosion and at least ten were slightly injured. This is confirmed by sources from the Farnesina, who are monitoring the situation in real time together with the Italian Embassy in Beirut.

Macron in Beirut through the destroyed streets: "Lebanon is not alone"
"Lebanon is not alone," said French President Emmanuel Macron arriving at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, where he visited the site of the devastating explosions that caused at least 137 deaths and 5,000 injured. Macron then went on foot to the destroyed neighborhoods to see the damage and meet the survivors with his own eyes and responded to requests for help stating that he wanted to "propose a new pact for Lebanon" in meetings with the authorities. "The primary goal of this trip is to bring all the solidarity of France and the French people to the Lebanese people," he said after meeting with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President of Parliament Nabih Berri in the presidential palace. A conversation in which he underlined the importance of "a quick and transparent investigation" on the causes of the explosion at the port, as well as urging strong political initiatives to resolve the economic crisis taking place in Lebanon. "I spoke frankly to the three presidents about the need to fight corruption, implement reforms, conduct a transparent investigation into what is happening in the banking system and continue dialogue with the International Monetary Fund - added the president - Lebanon suffers for years for an economic and financial crisis for the solution of which serious political initiatives are needed ".

IMF: Facing the Economic and Social Crisis
The International Monetary Fund urges Lebanon to face the "deep economic and social crisis" it has been experiencing for years and to overcome "the impasse in the discussions on crucial reforms" that it is leading with the organization. In a note, two days after the devastating explosions of Beirut, the director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, writes: "After the terrible tragedy in Lebanon, it is time for national unity, to overcome this disaster, and to face the profound economic and social crisis that the country continues to experience ". Georgieva says that the Fund "is exploring all possible ways to support the Lebanese people: it is essential to overcome the impasse in the discussions on crucial reforms and to put in place a significant program that will boost the economy and build confidence in the future of the Country". In March Lebanon declared a partial default in the impossibility of repaying an IMF 10 billion loan, but the bailout talks have been stalled for weeks.