The Lebanese Ministry of Health said today that more than 60 people are still missing in Beirut, 4 days after the huge explosion that rocked the port of the capital, while the Lebanese President Michel Aoun rejected calls to internationalize the investigation into the circumstances of the explosion, and it is expected that Paris will host tomorrow an international conference sponsored by him. United Nations to mobilize support to help Lebanon.

The French Press Agency quoted an official in the Ministry of Health that the number of people killed in the explosion reached at least 154 people, including 25 unidentified people, while the number of wounded exceeded 5,000, including 120 in critical condition. The explosion also left 300,000 people homeless, and massive damage to homes, facilities and streets.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that a number of children were missing, adding that about 100,000 children were now among the homeless, noting that the explosion destroyed schools that housed 55,000 students, and also destroyed a vital newborn care facility.

Cars inside the port of Beirut were damaged by the devastating explosion that occurred 4 days ago (Anatolia)

Teams of the Lebanese Army and Civil Defense are working in the Beirut Port area to recover the victims and the missing from under the rubble, and Al-Jazeera correspondent Ihab Al-Aqdi said that the army is using its naval base to carry out evacuation and logistical support for the efforts of relief and rescue teams, and there are - in addition to the local relief teams - teams of 9 Arab and foreign countries are currently working in the port area to recover the victims.

The families of the missing people come daily to the entrances to Beirut port to inquire about the news of their relatives. On Friday, at least 4 bodies were recovered from the wheat silos building, of which large parts collapsed, while employees were working inside it.

The President rejects
On the other hand, the Lebanese President expressed his rejection of what he described as the internationalization of the Lebanese crisis, and indicated that he would not allow this internationalization, in response to the escalating calls by political forces and former heads of government to open an international investigation into the explosion, questioning the feasibility of the investigation carried out by the authorities Lebanese.

President Aoun added that he believed that the explosion at the port was either the result of negligence or external intervention by means of a missile or bomb. He added that he personally requested French President Emmanuel Macron to provide his country with aerial photos if they were available in Paris, with the aim of determining if there were aircraft in the airspace or missiles.

The Lebanese President said that he would not allow the ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the Beirut Port explosion (Reuters)

The security and judicial agencies in Lebanon are investigating to uncover the circumstances of the accident and its causes, after the authorities announced that 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate had been stored for 6 years in one of the wards of Beirut port.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the Lebanese judiciary arrested the Director General of Customs, Badri Daher, in connection with the investigations into the port explosion, to join 19 other people, including current and former general managers.

And Lebanese media published a document attributed to the Special Investigation Commission at the Banque du Liban, which decided to freeze the bank accounts of current and former officials at the port and the customs administration.

International interactions
At the international level, US President Donald Trump said that his country will send 3 planes loaded with medical aid, food, and medical teams to Lebanon to help counter the effects of the explosion, and Trump added that he will participate in an international conference to be held tomorrow with video technology to help Lebanon. It is a conference chaired by the United Nations and France, according to a statement by the French Presidency Office today, which added that the conference will discuss mobilizing support from countries to help Lebanon, and decide how to distribute this international aid so that the Lebanese can directly benefit from it.

The French President Macron promised yesterday, Thursday, "transparent administration" so that the aid reaches the people, NGOs and aid groups in Lebanon, not to the ruling elite accused of corruption and mismanagement. The United Nations previously announced an additional $ 6 million funding to address the Beirut disaster from its Central Emergency Response Fund, in addition to the $ 9 million it has already authorized to use from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.

The UN World Food Program said it plans to import wheat flour and cereal flour intended for bakeries and mills, to help prevent food shortages.

The Arab League
In a related context, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said today that he will seek to mobilize Arab energies to provide support to Lebanon after the port explosion. Aboul Gheit added in statements to reporters after his meeting with the Lebanese President that the League is "ready to share Arab cards with anything related to the investigation." In the tragedy of the port of Beirut. "

Erdogan's deputy and Turkish foreign minister arrive in the Lebanese capital Beirut
Details: https://t.co/H1lCbqCjxU

- Turkey News Agency (@ tragency1) August 8, 2020

The director of the Al-Jazeera office in Beirut, Mazen Ibrahim, stated that Turkish Vice President Fouad Oktay met this morning with the Lebanese President as part of a solidarity visit with Lebanon, and the Turkish official expressed his country's readiness to assist in the efforts to rebuild Beirut port, as well as its readiness to set up the port of Mersin (southern Turkey). Subject to the signal to receive large ships, and then transport the containers in smaller vessels to the port of Tripoli (north Lebanon) or the port of Sidon (south), after the port of Beirut left the service circle due to the explosion.

Planes carrying aid coming from Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had landed at Beirut airport on Friday, after they were preceded by aircraft from France, Kuwait, Qatar and Russia.

It is noteworthy that the Beirut explosion increases the difficulties that Lebanon has been suffering for months due to the repercussions of a severe economic crisis and severe political polarization, in a scene where regional and international parties overlap.