Paying heed to the call of French President Emmanuel Macron for quick action to help Lebanon, International leaders held talks on Sunday to raise aid for Beirut, five days after the massive explosion which devastated the Lebanese capital.
Opening the meet, Macron said that the aid needed to reach the Lebanese people efficiently.
The virtual conference – set up by France and the United Nations – started at 14.00 Lebanon time (11.00 GMT).
US President Donald Trump was among those due to join the online meeting.
Officials estimate the blast at the warehouse, which stored 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, caused up to $15 billion (£11.5bn) in damage.
The explosion left at least 158 people dead, 5,000 injured and 3,00,000 homeless.
On Saturday several thousand people took to the streets, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing protesters and some demonstrators storming government ministries.
In a televised address, Lebanese PM Hassan Diab said he would ask for early elections as a way out of the crisis. The issue will be discussed in cabinet on Monday.
Lebanon was already mired in a deep economic crisis and struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic before the explosion tore through Beirut.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut on Thursday, and announced he wanted to co-ordinate international aid for the country.
An anti-government protest movement erupted last October, fuelled by the financial situation and a collapsing currency.
A statement from France’s presidential palace says Sunday’s conference “will aim to mobilize Lebanon’s main international partners and to organize and co-ordinate emergency support from the international community”.
Representatives from European Union member states, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan and the UK will all take part, with many others invited to attend.
In a series of tweets, President Trump said he had discussed the “catastrophic event” in Beirut with Mr Macron and would himself join the call.
“Everyone wants to help!” he wrote.
The aid conference comes amid ongoing fury about the government’s failure to stop the blast.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 people gathered for demonstrations on Saturday, to show that rage and also to remember those victims of the explosion.
As the protests got under way, mock gallows were erected in Martyrs’ Square to indicate the demonstrators’ view of the country’s political leaders.
Skirmishes began early on, with police responding to rocks and sticks thrown by protesters with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Police confirmed that live ammunition had been fired in central Beirut, though it is not clear by whom.
One officer died after falling into a lift-shaft in a hotel, reportedly after being chased there by protesters.
The local Red Cross said it treated 117 injured people at the scene. Another 55 were taken to hospital.
Dozens of protesters stormed government ministries and the headquarters of the country’s banking association.
The raids started after a group of people chanting anti-government slogans and burning a portrait of President Michel Aoun entered the foreign ministry and called for all ministries to be occupied.
Reports suggest security forces have since retaken the buildings from the demonstrators.
Sixteen employees at the Port of Beirut have been arrested over the two deadly explosions in the Lebanese capital that claimed the lives of over 135 people and left thousands others injured, a top official announced.
On Thursday evening, Government Commissioner to the Military Tribunal Judge Fadi Akiki said that more than 18 people have been questioned so far, including port and customs officials as well as people in charge of maintenance at the hangar where explosive materials have been stored for years, Xinhua news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Beirut’s First Investigative Judge Ghassan Oueidat issued a decision prohibiting the travel of seven port officials.
Two huge explosions rocked the Port of Beirut on Tuesday evening, killing at least 137 people and injuring nearly 5,000 others, while causing massive damages in the city.
Primary information has revealed that ammonium nitrate stored since 2014 in the port’s warehouse No. 12 might have caused the explosions.
Also on Thursday, it was announced that Lebanon’s Port of Tripoli was ready to temporarily replace the Port of Beirut.
Ahmed Tamer, director of the Tripoli port, told Xinhua that it has completed all its preparations to receive the aid ships sent to Lebanon and the vessels that transport products and goods.
Meanwhile, Lebanon continued to receive foreign donations and support following the disaster.
Italy and Russia sent two aircraft with medical equipment while Jordan sent a medical team with a field hospital.
A medical team also arrived earlier in the day from Tunisia along with food products.
A Polish Airlines aircraft arrived carrying rescue teams to help the Lebanese Red Cross and Civil Defense teams in removing victims through the rubble.
The team brought trained dogs to help in rescuing missing people at Port of Beirut and in other areas.
Meanwhile, Turkey sent an aircraft carrying medicines, medical equipment and advanced machines that can be used in rescuing missing people through the rubble.
The Kuwaiti embassy in Lebanon handed over humanitarian assistance including medical equipment and food while it had sent a day earlier 35 tonnes of medicines and food products.
Germany has also sent a number of doctors and a team specialized in helping Lebanese Civil Defense teams in their rescue efforts.
Moreover, Egypt sent medical equipment while Iran sent a field hospital in addition to necessary medical materials.
The Lebanese army announced in a statement released earlier in the day that donations will be distributed among hospitals in cooperation with the health ministry.
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