The Lebanese authorities have announced that the number of injured at the massive explosion that shook Beirut port on Tuesday is estimated at 5,000, and that approximately 300,000 people are among the displaced, while the government approved the state of emergency in Beirut for a period of two weeks and imposed house arrest on potential officials for the tragic accident.
Health Minister Hassan Hamad said the death toll had risen to 137, while dozens are still missing, which is likely to increase the number of deaths, while Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud announced that 300,000 people have been displaced.
The port of Beirut witnessed on Tuesday evening a huge explosion that turned parts of the city into rubble. Initial investigations indicate that the source of the explosion was high-explosive materials that had been stored in a warehouse in the port since 2014.
The explosion caused extensive damage to public and private property in the port and its surroundings, and the Lebanese Ministry of Energy announced that total damage had been done to the central building of the EDL.
For his part, the Lebanese Minister of Economy confirmed that the wheat silo in the port was destroyed in the explosion, stressing that the country's reserves of grains are sufficient for less than a month, and that the government is searching for additional storage spaces.
The government approved the state of emergency in Beirut for two weeks. "The Supreme Military Authority immediately takes over the authority to maintain security, and all the armed forces are at their disposal for two weeks," said Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad.
The government mandated the army to conduct an immediate and comprehensive survey of the affected areas, and to establish four field hospitals. The Supreme Council of Defense also announced the opening of schools to accommodate the homeless, and recommended contacting all countries and their embassies to secure the necessary aid and donations.
On Wednesday, the judicial authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances of the blast, and the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation mandated San Aweidat all security services to carry out investigations and investigations, and to conduct immediate investigations to find out all information and circumstances related to the explosion.
Aweidat requested these devices to provide him with all the reports available to them and any correspondence related to storing the explosive materials, and specifying the names of those responsible for preserving and protecting them and those carrying out maintenance work in the warehouse in which the explosion occurred.
The Lebanese government decided to pay compensation to the families of the dead and imposed house arrest on those responsible for storing the file "ammonium nitrate" in Beirut port since 2014, and ordered the formation of an administrative investigation committee to uncover the causes of the explosion, and raise the results within five days.
In this context, Amnesty International called for the immediate establishment of an international mechanism to investigate how the Beirut Port explosion occurred, whatever the cause.
Julie Ferrhar, Acting Secretary-General of the Organization, called for increased urgent humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, which was already suffering from an acute economic crisis, and the repercussions of the emerging epidemic of the Corona virus "Covid-19".
The world is moving to the rescue of Lebanon
Meanwhile, urgent medical aid and field hospitals began arriving in Lebanon since yesterday morning, the first of which was from Kuwait and from Qatar, which began sending field hospitals to relieve pressure on the already exhausted health system there.
Teams at Al-Adeed Air Force Base loaded foldable beds and generators in addition to other medical equipment on a Qatar cargo plane, one of four that were to be sent to Lebanon.
The air bridge of the Qatari aid to Lebanon includes necessary respirators, equipment and medical supplies. It also includes sending a full team of highly qualified search and rescue team and extensive experience in the field of rescue and tracing.
For its part, Baghdad sent a special plane loaded with urgent medical aid to counter the effects of the Beirut port explosion. The Tehran embassy in Beirut also announced the dispatch of an aid plane from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, carrying a field hospital, medical staff from surgeons and specialists, and the amount of medicine and humanitarian aid.
Egypt said that it sent two medical aid planes to Lebanon under the guidance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The Tunisian presidency announced the dispatch of two military planes carrying food aid, medicine and medical supplies to Lebanon. Tunisian President Qais Said also ordered 100 Lebanese wounded to be treated in Tunisian hospitals.
In turn, the Russian Ministry of Emergency stated that it had sent five aircraft to help clear the debris of the Beirut port explosion.
From Turkey, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Protector Hami Asawi, announced that the Turkish Ministry of Health is working to send rescue teams to Lebanon through the Disaster and Emergency Management and Red Crescent, to assist in search and rescue operations alongside ambulance personnel.
Aksoy added that the ministry is also planning to send field hospitals, medical supplies, medicines, and relief materials, and that his country will continue to provide all forms of support to our friendly and brotherly Lebanon.
From Europe
France announced the dispatch of two military planes carrying a team of civil security, several tons of medical equipment and a mobile health center, and announced the dispatch of a third aid plane.
The European Union decided to send about 100 specialized firefighters to Beirut to assist in searches in the city, and expressed its readiness to mobilize additional assistance to Lebanon.
The Dutch authorities announced that they had sent 67 relief workers to Beirut, including doctors, police and firefighters.
On Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Rap said that Britain would provide a five-million-pound (£ 6.6 million) aid package to Beirut, including contributions to search and rescue operations and medical support.
And arrived at the air base at Beirut airport, two helicopters from Greek (Greek) Cyprus carrying rescue teams.
The official Lebanese News Agency announced the arrival of a Greek aid plane to the air base at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, without mentioning its contents.