Death toll in Lebanon climbs to 100, about 4000 injured
By Moumita Layek & Deepankar Mukherjee
The blasts that rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 6:07 p.m. local time have claimed at least 100 lives, andaleft thousands more injured, many in critical condition, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.
Initially, there were conflicting reports on what caused the explosion. It was earlier blamed on a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab later said in a statement that an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, an explosive, had been stored at a warehouse for the past six years. Lebanon’s general security chief said the substance had been confiscated years ago.
Government Statement
Lebanese President Michel Aoun ordered military patrols in the city and vowed to investigate.
Lebanon’s head of General Security Abbas Ibrahim told reporters that “highly explosive materials” that were confiscated “a while back” were stored at the site of the explosion.
Prime Minister Diab stated that the storage of ammonium nitrate at a warehouse was “unacceptable” and would be investigated. “I will not rest until we find those responsible for what happened, hold them accountable, and impose maximum punishment.”
According to US sources, however it was “an attack”.
International help for Lebanon
Support for Lebanon and its people have poured in from around the world. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government is “devastated by the reports and images” coming out of Lebanon, according to her spokesperson Ulrike Demmer.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also tweeted his support to the people of Lebanon.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday offered US assistance to Lebanon after Beirut was rocked by massive blasts. He also said that the United States will wait for the findings of Lebanese authorities on the cause of the explosions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday that France stood “alongside Lebanon” and was ready to help it after the powerful explosions that rocked Beirut. French President Emmanuel Macron said French aid and resources were being sent to Lebanon. France and Lebanon have a special relationship as Lebanon had been a French protectorate earlier.
Russia’s emergency officials say the country will send five planeloads of aid to Beirut. Russiia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations will send rescuers, medical workers, a makeshift hospital and a lab for coronavirus testing to Lebanon.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Tehran was ready to assist in any way and urged Lebanon to “stay strong”. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the great and resilient people of Lebanon,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it is following with great concern the consequences of Beirut’s port explosion, according to the state news agency. The statement also affirmed the kingdom’s full support and solidarity with the Lebanese people.
Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have long jostled for influence in Lebanon through the Hezbollah and the Sunni political parties respectively.
India has condoled the destruction and loss of lives in Lebanon. “Shocked and saddened by the large explosion in Beirut city leading to loss of life and property. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
No Indian citizen has been listed amongst the dead and wounded.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on his official Twitter account Tuesday evening that he is “deeply saddened by the scenes of the explosion in Beirut. Brazil is home to the largest community of Lebanese in the world and, therefore, we feel this tragedy as if it were in our territory. I express my solidarity with the families of the fatal victims and the wounded.”
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday evening on his official Twitter account: “Sad and unfortunate the situation in Beirut, Lebanon. Our condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire sister nation.”
Panama’s Foreign Ministry tweeted: “The National Government expresses its deep dismay at the terrible explosion that occurred in Beirut, while expressing its solidarity with the Republic and the People of Lebanon and expressing its condolences to the families of the deceased and injured.”
And Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said: “Ecuador stands in solidarity with the Republic of Lebanon in light of the explosions registered in its capital, Beirut. @CancilleriaEc expresses its condolences to the families of the deceased.” The ministry said 150 Ecuadorians reside in Lebanon and “so far there are no victims.”
Israeli support
Soon after the blasts Israel said it had had nothing to do with them. Lebanon is one of a small number of countries Israel regards as an enemy state, and there have been no diplomatic relations since a ceasefire signed between the two countries in 1949. However, both countries have fought each other with periodic regularly, most recently in 2006.
Israel has offered the country humanitarian medical assistance, following the massive blast in Beirut yesterday. “Under the direction of Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi, Israel approached Lebanon through international defense and diplomatic channels to offer the Lebanese government medical humanitarian aid,” a statement read. Following the announcement, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin tweeted, “We share the pain of the Lebanese people and sincerely reach out to offer our aid at this difficult time.”
Lebanon is currently going through an unprecedented financial and economic crisis and an international tribunal is expected to issue its verdict on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri later this week. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has already indicted and accused Hezbollah members of carrying out the killing, according to Al Arabiya news agency.
– With input from agencies
