UK pledges another £20m in aid for Beirut after devastating explosion

9 August 2020, 15:54

Anti-government protesters in Beirut took to the streets again on Saturday
Anti-government protesters in Beirut took to the streets again on Saturday. Picture: AP

By Ewan Somerville

Britain has pledged a further £20 million in aid following the devastating explosion in Beirut.

The new support package will go directly to those injured and displaced by the explosion, providing access to food and medicine as well as other urgent supplies.

International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the latest funds, in addition to £5 million aid already given, showed the UK would “stand by the Lebanese people”.

The blast in the city's port destroyed large parts of the surrounding area, killing more than 150 people, injuring more than 5,000 and leaving more than 300,000 homeless.

Addressing a virtual international aid summit attended by world leaders on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Lebanon’s future was “at stake”.

READ MORE: Beirut police fire tear gas amid angry protests over blast

Beirut has been devastated by the deadly blast
Beirut has been devastated by the deadly blast. Picture: AP
Numerous countries have given aid to Lebanon following the blast
Numerous countries have given aid to Lebanon following the blast. Picture: AP

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Lebanon’s president in a call the UK would “stand by the country in its hour of need”.

According to a No 10 spokesman, the Prime Minister also conveyed condolences from the Queen.

Meanwhile, protesters stormed government buildings in Beirut on Saturday night as security forces hurled tear gas amid seething anger at alleged corruption in the country hampering efforts to prevent the tragedy.

One police officer was killed and dozens of people hurt in the confrontations. Lebanon's information minister Manal Abdel-Samad has since resigned.

READ MORE: Beirut blast 'may have been caused by rocket or bomb', Lebanese president says

READ MORE: Shocking satellite images show devastation caused by Beirut blast

Thousands of Lebanese people demonstrated against their government on Saturday
Thousands of Lebanese people demonstrated against their government on Saturday. Picture: AP

“Hell on Earth”: British survivor of Beirut blast tells story

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the UK offered £5m in emergency support, £3m of it for the British Red Cross. It is now proposing to give a further £20m to the World Food Programme, run by the United Nations.

The extra cash comes after a team of specialist UK medics arrived in the ravaged city on Friday to assess the health situation on the ground.

“The devastation we have seen in Lebanon this week has left people without homes, medical care and wondering how long it will be until the country's food supplies run out,” Ms Trevelyan said.

The aftermath of the Beirut explosion

Officials estimate the blast at a port-side warehouse, which stored more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, caused up to £11.5bn in damage.

One British aid worker told the PA news agency that the explosion had had a “devastating” impact on the city.

“The area of affected property is massive,” Rob Davis, from Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters, said, adding the impact of the blast could be felt six miles away from the port.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

American Easter egg

White House’s annual Easter egg roll to be attended by 40,000 people

Barbers in Paris

Proposal to ban discrimination over a person’s hair passes first legal hurdle

Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian Authority names new government following pressure to reform

Arvind Kejriwal

Opposition leader Kejriwal locked up for further four days, court rules

Resident clears rubble from home

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks

Pope Francis

Pope urges priests to avoid ‘clerical hypocrisy’ in Maundy Thursday speech