The shipment arrived at Beirut Port today afternoon and is comprised of over 480 tonnes of medical supplies and foodstuffs, according to a statement by the Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon.

The shipment was prepared in coordination with the Lebanese side following a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Cairo in December, said Yasser Alawi, the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon.

The shipment, Alawi added , affirms El-Sisi’s pledge to harness all capabilities to support Lebanon following the explosion.

Egypt has sent several aid shipments to Lebanon since the catastrophic event as per President El-Sisi’s directives to provide humanitarian aid to help in the reconstruction of the country.

Lebanese Minister of Health Firass Abiad, who received the shipment alongside other officials, said “Lebanon is in dire need now of drugs to treat chronic diseases,” and this “huge and unprecedented” shipment covers a large part of these needs.

The explosion at Beirut’s port on 4 August 2020 devastated the Lebanese capital, killing at least 171 people, injuring around 6,000, and leaving as many as 300,000 homeless.

Moreover, Lebanon’s healthcare system is struggling amid an economic crisis, with the coronavirus pandemic putting further pressure on the state-run hospitals.