UK government 'ready to go' with £5m aid to Lebanon after blast, says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
, who have dominated politics for years. People have to deal with daily power cuts, a lack of safe drinking water and limited public healthcare.Mr Ellwood said the international community has"taken a step back strategically from the Middle East and Lebanon is paying the price for that".
"There's massive corruption in the government itself - it's poorly governed. Economic crisis - there's a quarter of the people out of work there. And of course they've had their own lockdown issues with Covid-19. On top of that over a million refugees have spilled across from Syria. And I have to say there's been dwindling international support... And now this," he said.
Mr Raab said the"wider challenges facing Lebanon and the region haven't gone away" and that the UK would be"looking at ways in which we can help with their medium term challenges on governance on financial support, given the situation there". He also said he and Lebanon's PM had discussed the need for"a full, thorough and rigorous investigation to get to the truth" of how the blast happened, adding:"I think the people of Lebanon deserve no less."
Earlier, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the UK to offer Lebanon its"full support" to deal with the crisis.for the UK to give"immediate humanitarian assistance" to Lebanon, as well as enter talks to possibly suspend its state debt.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Beirut: At least 70 killed and thousands injured after huge explosion in Lebanese capitalThe Lebanese city of Beirut has experienced a huge blast, thought to have been in the area of the docks, which has shattered windows and rocked buildings. Get the latest on this story here:
Read more »
Beirut: At least 10 dead after huge explosion in Lebanese capital'This is a country that is in a dire situation even before such an extraordinary incident like the one we've seen this evening' Stone_SkyNews says Lebanon was struggling to get medicine into the country, which will be worsened by today's explosion
Read more »
Beirut explosion: At least 70 dead after huge blast in Lebanese capitalA HUGE explosion has killed at least 70 people and left 3,000 injured after the blast devastated parts of Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Pictures show buildings destroyed, people walking wounded, …
Read more »
Beirut: Incessant sirens as dazed, bloodied people wander devastated Lebanese capital“I saw a lot of very dazed, bloody people walking around trying to gather their bearings.” Sky News's Middle East editor Zein Ja'far witnesses devastation in the Lebanese capital.
Read more »
Beirut explosion: Britons among those injured as UK to deploy search and rescue teamsBREAKING: The head of Beirut's port has told local TV that they knew the materials were dangerous 'but not to this extent' - and that no explosives were stored near the substances that exploded. Latest from Lebanon:
Read more »
UK announces £5m aid and rescue teams to help Lebanon following Beirut explosionsGovernment announces emergency relief package as 300,000 made homeless by blast
Read more »