A powerful blast rocked the Beirut seaport area on August 4, sending a shockwave through residential neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital.

The shockwave destroyed and damaged dozens of buildings and cars, while more than 300,000 people were left homeless.

Local authorities said the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, stored in the port after being confiscated by the customs service six years ago.

Lebanese president said that the officials are looking into possible “external interference” in addition to simple negligence for the incident.

He also analyzed some countries’ approaches in this regard and hailed Iran’s increasing efforts to help the Lebanese people.

“Trump’s bizarre stance in the early hours after the incident of the explosion, which he called it a “terrible attack,” was a sign of the US president’s hastiness and recklessness in dealing with issues”, he added.

He also referred to the president of France who is abusing the incident in favor of his country’s foreign policy despite his inability to resolve political and economic issues inside France.

The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, said it lost several containers of essential medical supplies in the blast, with personal protective equipment (PPE) completely destroyed.

“WFP is concerned that the explosion and the damage to the port will exacerbate an already grim food security situation,” said the agency’s spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs, AFP reported.

The severe damage to Lebanon’s largest port “could limit the flow of food supplies into the country and push food prices beyond the reach of many,” she added.

Byrs said the WFP would be allocating 5,000 food parcels to affected families, which contain enough food to feed a family of five for a month.

It is also planning to import wheat flour and grains for bakeries and mills to help protect against food shortages.

The WHO said hospitals were overwhelmed with injured patients, with three hospitals now deemed non-functional, putting 400 beds out of use, and a further two hospitals partially damaged, putting a further 100 beds beyond use.

WHO called for $15 million (12.7 million euros) to cover immediate emergency trauma and humanitarian health needs.

It said hundreds of thousands of PPE items for the country’s coronavirus response were destroyed.

UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, said preliminary numbers suggested that up to 100,000 children’s homes had been damaged or destroyed and they were now displaced.

“We have initial reports of over 120 public and private schools that have sustained damage,” serving approximately 55,000 children, UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado said.

The agency has launched a funding appeal for an initial $8.25 million.

“The needs are immediate and huge,” Mercado said.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said it had received unconfirmed reports of several refugee deaths.

It is establishing temporary shelters for those who lost their homes and supporting relocation efforts.

“The need for shelter is massive,” said spokesman Charlie Yaxley.

“UNHCR is making available its in-country stocks of shelter kits, plastic sheets… and tens of thousands of other core relief items including blankets and mattresses for immediate distribution and use.”

OHCHR, the UN human rights office, called for an impartial investigation, saying the tragedy must become a turning point for a country fast spiraling out of control.

“With large swathes of the city unfit to live in, the country’s principal port all but destroyed and the health system on its knees, the situation is dire,” said spokesman Rupert Colville.

“Victims’ calls for accountability must be heard, including through undertaking an impartial, independent, thorough and transparent investigation into the explosion.”

“After this incident, some humanitarian aids, especially from some Islamic countries, have been sent to Beirut. In the meantime, we witnessed the expression of sympathy of some countries, including Israel regime and the countries that had imposed sanctions on Lebanon, which is hypocritical and superficial,” he said.

“Some Western and European countries, despite imposing sanctions against the Lebanese country and people, offered condolences, which is a sign of the multifaceted action of these governments,” he added.

Emphasizing that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate with Lebanon for the reconstruction of the port of Beirut, he said, “We stand with the Lebanese government and people.”

“Iran’s foreign and health ministers, as well as the head of the Red Crescent, have been tasked with keeping in touch with their counterparts so that we can provide any assistance to the Lebanon’s people quickly,” he added.

He went on to wish a speedy recovery for those injured.

Praising Iranian government and people’s sympathy over the Beirut explosion, Michel Aoun, for his part, said, “The Lebanese people have always appreciated the attention and love of the Iranian people and government.”

“Naturally, it takes time to investigate all the dimensions of this incident and to summarize the damages,” he added.

 

The two sides discussed the catastrophic explosion that occurred in Beirut Port and the way of sending humanitarian aid to the injured.

While expressing his condolences and sympathy with the government, Armed Forces and people of Lebanon, Brigadier General Amir Hatami said that Iranian government and Armed Forces are ready to send emergency aids to the injured of the incident and added, “Iran’s medical aids include a mobile hospital which is ready for sending to Lebanon.”

For her part, Lebanese Minister of Defense Zeina Akar expressed her thanks for expressing sympathy and humanitarian contributions of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon.

On Tuesday afternoon, a massive explosion rocked Beirut with the force of an earthquake followed by a shock wave that devastated much of the city leading to the death of at least 135 people and injury of more than 5,000 others.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tons of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.

“The tragic incident in Beirut which killed and injured a number of dear Lebanese people, made caused grief in the Iranian nation,” he said.

“Lebanon is always steadfast,” he added, saying, “As always the Islamic Republic of Iran will support Lebanon and stand by the government and the people.”

The explosion on Tuesday sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage as far as the outskirts of Beirut. At least 135 people were killed and 5,000 wounded in a massive explosion that shook Beirut on Tuesday, according to Lebanon’s health minister.

He expressed his deep condolences to the government, people and forces of Lebanese Resistance Front and Hezbollah especially Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah for the death of a number of people in Beirut port’s explosion and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The occurrence of this tragic, heartrending and sad incident caused great sorrow and grief to all Muslims and all people in various countries, he said, adding, “it is necessary for all countries especially Muslim countries to help Lebanese government and people to solve their problems and dire consequences of this incident.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Larijani said, “for many years, Lebanese people have suffered the tyranny and oppression of usurping Zionist regime as well as cruel US sanctions imposed against this country.”

The tragic incident occurred in Beirut Port doubled the difficulties and problems of Lebanese people, he said, adding, “certainly, Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the Lebanese people and will spare no effort to help alleviate their pains and agonies caused by this incident.”

On Tuesday afternoon, a massive explosion rocked Beirut with the force of an earthquake followed by a shock wave that devastated much of the city leading to the death of at least 135 people and injury of more than 5,000 others.