The EU on Thursday said it had released €33 million (Dh143.9m/$39.2m) to finance initial emergency aid for Lebanon.
It also sent resources including an Italian hospital ship to help relief work in Beirut, which was devastated on Tuesday by two explosions.
A donor conference is also planned to gather more funds for rebuilding after an assessment of what is required, an EU source said.
The release of the funds should cover the immediate needs of emergency services and hospitals in the Lebanese capital, the European Commission said.
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A Lebanese youth hugs French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visiting the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Macron arrived to Lebanon to show support after a massive explosion on 04 August -
French President Emmanuel Macron listens to a resident as he visits a devastated street of Beirut. AP Photo -
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA -
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits a devastated street of Beirut. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron surrounded by Lebanese servicemen, visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaks with a woman as he visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday. AP Photo -
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday that hit the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo -
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he arrives at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. REUTERS -
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. REUTERS -
French President Emmanuel Macron greets people during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron wears a protective face mask as he meets Lebanon's President Michel Aoun following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon. Reuters -
French President Emmanuel Macron greets people during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital, on August 6, 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / ANWAR AMRO -
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the crowd during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital, on August 6, 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / ANWAR AMRO -
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, gestures as he visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) -
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits a devastated street of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 6, 2020 a day after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut Thursday, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / POOL / Thibault Camus -
A video grab shows French President Emmmanuel Macron, left, speaking with a member of a French rescue team which arrived overnight to support relief efforts at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Tele Liban / Reuters -
Lebanon's President Michel Aoun meets French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the airport in Beirut. Dalati Nohra/Reuters -
Lebanon's President Michel Aoun welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the airport in Beirut. Dalati Nohra/Reuters -
"Lebanon is not alone," Mr Macron tweeted shortly after landing. Dalati Nohra/Reuters -
The French president is the first foreign leader to visit the Lebanese capital since an explosion on Tuesday killed at least 137 people. Dalati Nohra / Reuters -
Mr Macron said Lebanon was facing a political and economic crisis, and that it would continue to suffer unless it enacted reforms. Reuters
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, on Thursday about EU assistance.
In a letter to the 27 EU members, Ms Von der Leyen and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, called on member states to "contribute to the road to recovery that lies ahead".
"We invite you to intensify your support to Lebanon on the immediate needs, but also with a view to the longer-term reconstruction of the country," they wrote.
"To ensure efficiency and swift delivery, we stand ready to ensure the synergy of the aid that you and the EU as a whole will provide to Lebanon, through a co-ordination mechanism that the EU institutions will put in place."
They reminded the member states of the "strong partnership" between the EU and Lebanon, "a country of strategic importance, which hosts the largest number of refugees per capita".
"We have a common interest in acting now to limit the fallout of this tragedy," Ms von der Leyen and Mr Michel wrote.
European countries have reacted quickly. The Italian navy hospital ship has medical equipment and helicopters for evacuation.
Italy has also sent 250 firefighters specialising in search and rescue, an EU source said.
