Beirut blast: India to extend assistance to Lebanon; seeks damage assessment in explosion

India has sought an assessment from Leban on dam caused during massive blast in Beirut, in order to decide nature of assistance that can be extended to recover from devastating effects of explosion.

"We have sought an assessment on dam from Leban. On its basis we will decide nature of assistance that we will extend to m. re have been reported casualties among Indians, only 5 mir injuries," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivatsava said on Thursday.

Over 140 lost ir lives and over 5,000 suffered injuries in explosion that rocked Leban's capital Beirut on Tuesday, August 4. As per Lebanese authorities, blast was caused due to improper stor of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. explosion damd half of Beirut's buildings and about 300,000 people were left homeless.

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Friendly nations step forward for aid

Several countries across world including France, Italy, US, UK, Australia, Russia, Germany and Israel have pledged monetary and manpower assistance to tiny Mediterranean country.

France, Leban's former colonial ruler, has vowed to help country get back on its feet. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday visited Beirut to show solidarity and said crisis-hit Leban would “continue to sink” unless its leers carry out reforms. Macron is first foreign leer to visit its former colony after blasts. France has also helped Leban by sending aid in its tough time. 

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Besides, United Nations has said it is releasing $9 million to dress immediate needs following explosion that devastated Beirut and help strengn operations in city's hospitals. World Health Organization reported that blast left three hospitals unusable and two ors with substantial dam and that equivalent of 500 hospital beds has been lost.

initial $9 million from UN will be used to expand and establish ditional intensive care units where needed and provide trauma kits, ventilators, medical supplies and medicine. WHO will help cover 1,000 trauma interventions and 1,000 surgical interventions for people suffering from burns and wounds caused by glass and or debris resulting from blast.

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