Washington: The US has begun to provide aid thereafter a massive deadly explosion in Lebanon, and is amidst long-standing concerns about how officials will ensure aid reaches the needy and not Iran-backed Hezbollah. The first C-17 transport aircraft from the US Military Central Command carrying 11 pallets of food, water, and medical supplies landed in Qatar on Thursday and two others are expected to arrive there in the next 24 hours.
US officials said the administration planned to provide at least $ 15 million in disaster assistance. The officials were not allowed to discuss the matter before the formal announcement, so they gave this information on the condition of anonymity. But what makes the provision of aid most complex is the role of Hezbollah that he plays in the fabric of the Lebanese government and Lebanese society.
The capital city was rocked by a massive explosion of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The chemical had been lying in a factory since it was seized by a cargo ship in 2013. The explosion killed more than 130 people, injured thousands and damaged buildings several miles away. Officials estimate that until two days later, nearly three lakh people have not returned to their homes. The damaged hospitals are still struggling to treat the injured and officials have estimated losses between 10 billion and 15 billion dollars.
