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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday to show solidarity for Lebanon after a massive chemical explosion decimated the capital city of Beirut on 4 August.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Abbas also expressed his willingness to provide all possible assistance to help Lebanon deal with the tragedy which has seen 135 people killed and over 5000 injured. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shockwaves of the mushroom-cloud explosion ripped through the port city and were reportedly felt in Cyprus, over 193km away. Experts expect the death toll to rise as victims are found amongst the rubble.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beirut‘s city governor Marwan Abboud said up to 300,000 people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter. Many hospitals have been overwhelmed with dealing with injured people, with many having emergency care administered in the streets. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adding to the severity of the crisis, the blast has destroyed vital grain silos which, according to the Lebanese economy minister, Raoul Nehme, has left the country with less than a month’s grain reserves. However, he has claimed there is no risk of food shortage. “There is no bread or flour crisis,” he said. “We have enough inventory and boats on their way to cover the needs of Lebanon [in] the long term.”<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several Arab countries stepped in to offer aid to Lebanon, which has been beset by a second wave of COVID-19 cases plunging the country into a second lock-down. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lebanon is also facing economic and financial collapse, fueled by government corruption, austerity measures, and a lack of basic infrastructure, which has seen high rates of inflation as the price of the Lira has been devalued by up to 85 per cent. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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