UK marks anniversary of 4 August Beirut port blast
The UK바카라 사이트檚 response to the 4 August 2020 blast included聽delivering聽military aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces,聽and聽deploying聽teams of humanitarian, medical and military specialists.
UK support to the Lebanese Red Cross
On the聽one-year聽anniversary of the devastating 4 August port blast that tore Beirut apart, killing more than 200 people and injuring thousands, the British Embassy Beirut held a series of events to聽commemorate the day. In his messages over the past week, British Ambassador to Lebanon Ian Collard聽told of his empathy for聽the Lebanese people바카라 사이트檚聽sense of devastation and quest for justice. He paid tribute to the bravery of front-line workers that day聽and聽called on Lebanese leaders to deliver a fair and transparent investigation. 바카라 사이트疉mbassador Collard added: 바카라 사이트榠n Beirut바카라 사이트檚 hour of need, the United Kingdom was among the first바카라 사이트痮f Lebanon바카라 사이트檚聽international partners to respond to the blast and we will continue to stand by the people of Lebanon바카라 사이트�.
The UK바카라 사이트檚 response to the 4 August 2020 blast included聽delivering聽military aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces,聽and聽deploying聽teams of humanitarian, medical and military specialists.聽Through the British Red Cross, the UK delivered聽PPE, ambulances, blood transfusion services,聽and more聽to the Lebanese Red Cross. Working with international partners,聽we provided shelter, psychosocial support, safe spaces, Gender Based Violence outreach to women and girls,聽counselling and legal assistance,聽and rehabilitation services including to persons with disabilities.바카라 사이트疻e also supported聽the NGO,聽March Lebanon바카라 사이트檚 Beirut Relief programme, rehabilitating Civil Defence units, the Fire Department, cultural heritage sites and more.
On the morning of 4 August 2021, with聽the聽Embassy바카라 사이트檚聽Union Jack聽flag at half-mast, the British Ambassador led聽embassy staff in聽a memorial service at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery,聽Qasqas. The service was聽set to solemn music聽played by聽the聽band of the聽Queen바카라 사이트檚 Royal Hussars,聽and聽attended by聽the UK바카라 사이트檚聽Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East,聽Air Marshal Sammy Sampson,聽who was visiting. British Embassy and British Council colleagues paid tribute to those,聽including friends and relatives,聽whose lives were lost and others who were impacted on that tragic day.
A few minutes after 6pm, British Embassy staff held an online vigil to remember lost loved ones, family and friends, and all those affected by the blast. It was a moment to reflect on what happened a year ago,聽share experiences聽and support collective healing.
On the eve of the anniversary, the British Ambassador hosted a reception dedicated to frontline workers聽where he聽paid tribute to selflessness聽of heroes聽from the Red Cross to firefighters,聽members of聽civil society聽and聽NGOs, unknown聽soldiers聽and others for聽their response聽in the immediate aftermath聽of the blast and聽during聽the days that followed.바카라 사이트� He reiterated the UK바카라 사이트檚 call on Lebanon바카라 사이트檚 leaders for 바카라 사이트榯ransparency and accountability that聽is needed to bring closure to the victims, their families and all of the people who continue to suffer바카라 사이트�.
In a recorded video message at an international聽conference for Lebanon, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: 바카라 사이트楢s we remember the terrible Beirut blast one year ago, I reiterate聽the UK바카라 사이트檚 strong support for the Lebanese people and urge聽Lebanon바카라 사이트檚 leaders to deliver justice and accountability. They must form a government capable of addressing the crisis the country聽faces바카라 사이트�. He added: 바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트he international community is ready to assist if they follow this path. But if they fail, Lebanon바카라 사이트檚 friends must look at how we can tackle the corruption that has seen narrow vested interests placed above the needs of the people바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�.
The anniversary coincided with the visit of the UK Defence聽Senior Advisor to the Middle East Air Marshal Sammy Sampson who held a series of meetings with Lebanese officials.