Britain announces £5 million in aid for Beirut

UK offers to send search and rescue teams and medical experts to assist relief effort after massive blasts

Damaged cars are pictured in front of billowing smoke behind the grain silos at the port of Beirut. AFP

A drone picture shows smoke from the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun wears a protective face mask as he visits the scene of Tuesday's explosion in Beirut. AFP

An emergency command vehicle of the Lebanese Red Cross is pictured in the aftermath of yesterday's blast. AFP

A man inspects the damage of yesterday's blast. AFP

A survivor is taken out of the rubble after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo

A damaged hospital is seen after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo

Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut.AP Photo

An ambulance drives near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Lebanese national flags fly at half-mast outside the presidential palace in Baabda, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A woman is evacuated from the partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP

An injured man sits next to a restaurant in the trendy partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP

A man walks past damaged building and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past damaged buildings and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A woman sweeps at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut. Reuters

A man wearing a face mask moves a gurney at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Reuters

The wreckage of a ship is seen following yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Lebanese soldiers and people gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre following an explosion in Beirut. Reuters

The explosion caused damage to Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office

The damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office following the blast.

Pictures of the damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office

People gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

Damaged vehicle and buildings near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images

A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Beirut. AFP

A man pushes a buggy with a child on Wednesday past a damaged vehicle near the scene of overnight blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

In this drone picture, the destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris. AP Photo

People inspect the damage near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

People inspect the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Shattered glass lies in front of a building following a blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

Lebanese army troops carry a wounded man evacuated from a ship at Beirut's port. AFP

This picture shows damage at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. Courtesy Lebanese Plane Spotters / Facebook

The UK on Wednesday announced a package of emergency relief for Lebanon following the twin explosions at Beirut Port the day before, which killed at least 135 people and injured thousands more.

Britain has offered to send over expert search and rescue teams with specially trained dogs to help find those trapped under rubble and debris. It also pledged up to £5 million in emergency humanitarian funding to help people made homeless by the disaster, following a call between Hassan Diab, Prime Minister of Lebanon and Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab.

The UK has also offered enhanced support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, including tailored medical help, strategic air transport assistance, and engineering and communications support.

Britain has also offered to send International Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) who could provide initial assessment and coordination with search and rescue teams.

EMT offer a rapid provision of internationally accredited public health, medical and surgical teams including experts from the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and its private medical sector.

“This was a devastating explosion which has caused enormous suffering and damage. The UK is a long-standing friend of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, and will stand with them in their hour of need,” Mr Raab said.

International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said that the world had been “shocked by the scenes of devastation and suffering” in Beirut.

“My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy and who have lost loved ones,” Ms Trevelyan said. “The UK stands ready to support the people of Lebanon in their time of need and has offered to send medics and rescue workers to treat those who have been injured.”

The blast measured 4.5 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as Cyprus, some 240 kilometres from Beirut.

Before the incident, Lebanon was already experiencing a major economic crisis and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, as well as hosting over 1.5 million refugees from the war in neighbouring Syria.

Nearly half of the city was damaged by the largest explosion, which Lebanon’s government blamed on 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive fertiliser, stored in an unsecured warehouse in the port.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab has said he will determine within five days the exact cause of the explosions and “who was responsible”.

Countries around the world have voiced their support and pledged to send aid to help repair damage estimated at between $3 billion and $5bn (Dh11bn-Dh18.4bn).