The EU has expressed its solidarity with and support for the Lebanese people following the tragedy that has plunged the country into mourning and destroyed half of Beirut after two gigantic explosions of a stockpile of ammonium nitrate in the late afternoon of Tuesday 4 August. The disaster at the seaport in the Lebanese capital has left more than 100 people dead and 4,000 injured, according to a provisional assessment.
"The European Union expresses its full solidarity and support to the families of the victims and to the Lebanese people and authorities following the violent explosions that hit Beirut today", said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, on his Twitter account a few minutes after the disaster.
"We share the shock and sadness of the people of Beirut (...) Our condolences go to all those that have lost loved ones. At this difficult time, the European Union offers its full support to the Lebanese people", added the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič.
At the request of the Lebanese authorities, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was immediately activated and "is now coordinating the urgent deployment of over a 100 highly trained firefighters, with vehicles, dogs and equipment, specialised in search and rescue in urban contexts, to save lives", said Lenarčič on Wednesday 5 August.
The Netherlands, Greece and the Czech Republic have already confirmed their participation in this operation. France, Poland and Germany have also offered assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is in close contact with the Lebanese authorities and ensuring that offers of assistance are matched to needs.
The EU has also activated the Copernicus programme to provide the Lebanese authorities with satellite maps of the location and extent of the damage. "We are ready to mobilise further help", the Commissioner said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)