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Leaders around the world promise to help Lebanon: "We will provide many resources"

More than 30 countries, including France, the United States and Egypt, announced the transfer of financial aid to the country after the disaster in Beirut. A joint statement said: "The aid will be delivered directly to the people, efficiently and transparently."

• Lebanon
• Beirut
• Emanuel Macron

News agencies

Live broadcast of the demonstration in Beirut (Photo: Reuters)

Leaders from more than 30 countries today (Sunday) agreed to provide "many resources" to help Lebanon recover from the massive explosion in Beirut, pledging not to disappoint its citizens. "The assistance must be timely and consistent with the needs of the Lebanese people, and must be delivered directly to the people efficiently and transparently," said participants, including France, the United States and Egypt.

Along with international aid, demonstrations against the regime in Lebanon continue for the second day after the explosion in the capital port that killed at least 158 ​​people and injured 6,000. Hundreds of protesters hurled stones at security forces and blocked the street next to parliament.

"We want to destroy and kill the government," said Nissan Gerawi, a 19-year-old unemployed protester. "They give us no job and no rights." The 30 leaders stressed that they would help rebuild Lebanon in accordance with the reforms demanded by the demonstrators.

Leaders, senior officials and international organizations today participated in the virtual conference on aid to Lebanon, initiated by France and the United States. Conference participants will provide assistance from Europe, the United States and the countries of the region, which will include medicines, food and housing solutions. Participants included French President Emmanuel Macron, United States President Donald Trump, King Abdullah of Jordan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Macron, who hosted the conference after visiting Beirut on Thursday, said the world powers should put aside their differences in support of the Lebanese people after the disaster. "Despite differences of opinion, everyone must mobilize to help Lebanon and its people," the French president added in a video call from his summer vacation on the French Riviera. "Our mission today is to act quickly and efficiently."

The White House said Trump told the conference that the United States was ready to continue providing aid to the Lebanese people. "The president has called for calm in Lebanon and recognized the protesters' legitimate calls for transparency, change and responsibility," the White House said.

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The European Commission has announced that it will contribute 33 million euros to be transferred to UN agencies, charities and international organizations monitored. Commission President Charles Michel called during a conference questioning the "independent and credible" about the circumstances that caused the explosion, and stressed that the European Union will stand alongside Lebanon.

Secretary of State Saudi Arabia's Faisal bin Farhan also joined the call for the establishment of a "transparent and independent" commission of inquiry

. I, who also took part in the conversation, said that Lebanon could not deal with the consequences of the explosion alone, and a-Thani added that it was necessary to "strengthen national unity" after the disaster.