Egypt sends 2 further aircraft carrying aid to Beirut

Daily News Egypt
2 Min Read
Smoke rises in the aftermath of a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Two Egyptian aircraft have arrived at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, carrying large quantities of relief aid for Lebanon.

The two aircraft represent the 13th and 14th flights amid the air bridge announced by Egypt earlier this month to provide urgent assistance for Beirut.

The flights come as part of directives issued by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, helping Lebanon overcome the aftermath of the recent massive explosion in the Lebanese capital.

The two planes, which were received by Egypt’s Ambassador in Lebanon, Yasser Alwai, were carrying more than 30 tonnes of relief aid, foodstuff, and medical supplies.

The Egyptian air bridge to Lebanon will continue to provide aid until 26 August, with Egypt also ready to contribute to Beirut’s reconstruction after 250,000 housing units were damaged by the explosion.

As part of this, huge quantities of medicine, surgical tools and teams, medical supplies, and specialised doctors, have been transported to the Lebanese capital.

The Egyptian aid has included tens of tonnes of basic foodstuffs, especially wheat flour, to ensure the continued operation of bakeries in Lebanon.

This follows the almost total loss of Lebanon’s strategic reserves of flour in the explosion. The country’s main wheat storage silo was located at Beirut port, and was completely destroyed in the explosion, caused by over 2,700 tonnes of improperly stored Ammonium Nitrate nearby.

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