Lebanese Information Minister Manal Abdessamad met with Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin and expressed gratitude for Russian assistance in eliminating the consequences of the explosion in the port of Beirut. Al Markazia writes about this on Saturday, August 8.
“Abdessamad thanked Russia for its operational support from the first hours after the incident and for providing five aircraft with help,” the newspaper notes.
In addition, the minister called Russia a fraternal and friendly country that provided assistance to Lebanon at a critical time.
On the eve of the gratitude from the Lebanese authorities, the ambassador of the republic to the Russian Federation Shawki Bou Nassar said. He noted that Beirut hopes for additional assistance from Russia, in particular, for the supply of construction materials and food.
A powerful explosion occurred in the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut on 4 August. As a result of the incident, more than 150 people were killed, and more than 5 thousand people were injured.
The explosion was attributed to the ignition of 2.7 tons of ammonium nitrate during welding. The facades of dozens of buildings were destroyed and damaged.
The governor of the city, Marwan Abboud, estimated the damage from the incident at $ 3-5 billion.
On August 6, at the initiative of the Russian leader, employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry arrived in Beirut to help in the fight against the consequences of the emergency and the deployment of mobile hospitals, Russian doctors received the first victims.
A day later, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with the Security Council members the possibility of further assistance to Beirut.