The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, visited the Tonnerre helicopter carrier on Friday August 14, a few hours after the ship's arrival at the port of Beirut. Deployed in Lebanon ten days after the devastating explosion that hit the Lebanese capital, the French military building must participate in the reconstruction work.

"I have come today to affirm the strength and depth of our solidarity with the Lebanese and the strength of this bond which will never be denied", declared Florence Parly, on the second day of her visit to Beirut, adding that the the whole of the French support operation in Lebanon had been baptized "Amitié".

While the demonstrations continue in Lebanon against a power considered corrupt, the minister insisted on clarifying the commitment of France alongside the people: "International aid must reach everyone, in an efficient and transparent manner. The president of the République (française), like all the participants in the August 9 conference, is committed to it. "

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The arrival of the amphibious helicopter carrier completes the aid system put in place by France, which has already carried out eight military flights to Beirut.

"This helicopter carrier is both a technological marvel but also a workhorse," said the Minister of the Armed Forces.

"It is at the same time an airport for the helicopters which it shelters and which can very quickly intervene towards the ground, but it is also a port which deploys disembarkation barges and it is a considerable transport capacity. C finally, a building equipped with several facilities including a 50 bed hospital. "

Le Tonnerre has around 700 soldiers on board, including engineers, demining divers and rescuers. It also transports tons of flour, medicines, construction materials donated by French companies.

Another ship, the ro-ro ship Calao, will arrive in Beirut in a few days, said Florence Parly.

A second French death recorded

While the toll of the double explosion exceeded 170 dead, a second French national was identified among the deceased, we learned Friday from sources familiar with the matter.

To date, 93 wounded of French nationality have also been counted among the more than 6,500 wounded counted by the Lebanese authorities, said one of these sources.

In France, the investigation, which was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office given the presence of French victims, was also entrusted on Tuesday to two investigating judges, said the Paris prosecutor's office, confirming information from BFMTV .

The judicial information, carried out by magistrates of the specialized pole of the Paris court for collective accidents, was opened for counts of "involuntary homicides" and "unintentional injuries", he specified.

A first French death was quickly identified among the victims, the architect Jean-Marc Bonfils, installed in Lebanon, where he had taken part in particular in projects to restore buildings destroyed by the war, according to the Minister of Culture.

French investigators on site

In the days following the disaster, caused by a huge amount of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse, French forensic and judicial police investigators were dispatched to Beirut. Their mission aims in particular to participate in the identification of the victims and the reconstruction of the events, within the framework of cooperation with the Lebanese authorities.

The latter continue to reject an international investigation despite the voices raised in Lebanon and abroad in this direction. UN experts have called for an independent and rapid investigation, expressing concern at the "impunity" they claim to Lebanese politicians.

Lebanese authorities have appointed judge Fadi Sawan, known according to judicial sources for his independence and probity, to investigate the causes of the explosion.

On Thursday, the United States announced that the United States Federal Police (FBI) will join the investigators, "at the invitation" of the Lebanese authorities.

With Reuters and AFP

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