*Two fully equipped, 500-bed field hospitals and urgent medical aid reach Beirut
*Search and rescue team also dispatched
*More assistance on the way

In implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to send urgent medical aid to Lebanon, aircraft belonging to the Qatari Amiri Air Force arrived at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Wednesday , carrying urgent medical aid and supplies, and two fully equipped 500-bed field hospitals to treat those injured by the Beirut port explosion.

The aircraft was received by Qatar's ambassador to Lebanon Mohamed Hassan Jaber al-Jaber, charge d'affaires at Lebanon's embassy in Qatar Ambassador Farah Berri, head of the Airport Security Authority, Brigadier-General George Doumit, Commander of the Beirut Air Base Colonel Hassan Barakat, and staff working at the Qatar embassy in Beirut, as well as a number of ranking Lebanese officers.



On the directives of the Amir , a fully equipped team from the Qatari Search and Rescue Team of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) has also headed to Beirut to participate in the search and rescue operations.

The aircraft departed for Beirut Wednesday morning. More aircraft carrying much-needed relief materials, were scheduled to leave on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has activated its Disaster Management Center to outline an immediate humanitarian intervention plan in response to Tuesday's explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. An emergency meeting of top QRCS officials was held to decide on the required aid to be delivered in co-operation with the Lebanese Red Cross and the office of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Beirut.


*FM offers condolences, support

Later in the day, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon Charbel Wehbe.

During the call, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the condolences of the government and people of Qatar to the victims of the explosion in Beirut Port, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

HE the Foreign Minister expressed the solidarity of the State of Qatar with Lebanon and its full readiness to provide all kinds of assistance necessary to mitigate the effects of this explosion.

The Lebanese minister thanked Qatar for its solidarity and continuous support.





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