China News Agency, United Nations, August 7th. The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Lowcock allocated US$6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on the 7th to help deal with the massive bombing in Beirut Port. At present, the total funding provided by the United Nations agencies to Lebanon amounts to 17.2 million US dollars.

  On the evening of the 4th local time, a violent explosion occurred near the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, which has caused at least 150 deaths and more than 5,000 injuries, leaving a large number of locals homeless.

  Lowcock said that Lebanon has been under tremendous pressure due to civil strife, economic difficulties, the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the Syrian refugee crisis. For the Lebanese people, who have hosted millions of Syrian refugees, the international community should respond “quickly and firmly” and provide support.

  The United Nations Humanitarian Coordination Office stated that the Central Emergency Response Fund’s funding is mainly used to provide support for hospital treatment, repair damaged houses for the most difficult people affected by the explosion, and provide logistical support. In addition to providing funds, the United Nations also coordinated the deployment of experts from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system to provide support to rescue workers in Beirut. The United Nations and its partners are continuing to assess the situation and mobilize emergency assistance, including temporary shelters for approximately 300,000 displaced people.

  The United Nations Food Program said on the 7th that a large storage granary in Lebanon was destroyed in the explosion, and all the 120,000 tons of wheat and beans stored in it were lost, which may cause the country's food prices to soar. At present, the WFP has launched a large-scale assistance program, which will provide assistance to 50,000 vulnerable families affected by the explosion, economic crisis and the new crown epidemic. The total number of assistance is expected to be about 250,000.

  The World Health Organization also announced that it would provide Lebanon with US$2.2 million in emergency response funds; the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator in Lebanon announced on the 6th that it would allocate US$9 million to deal with the damage caused by the explosion. United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Humanitarian Coordination Office, WHO, WFP and UNICEF have also begun to solicit donations for Lebanon. (Finish)