The Turkish Embassy in Beirut issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the Beirut Port Blast:

All victims of the tragic Beirut Port blast are remembered with reverence by the Turkish government and people. Turkey and its citizens reaffirm their strong support for and solidarity with the Lebanese government and people.

•         Lebanon and Turkey are bound by deep-rooted historical ties and common cultural values.  That’s why Turkey always stands by Lebanon, especially in difficult times.

•        Turkey was among the first countries to extend a helping hand to and express full solidarity with the Lebanese state and people. Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, all relevant Turkish government agencies were immediately mobilized to provide emergency and rescue support.

•         Immediately after the explosion, a joint delegation of 37 experts from the Ministry of Health, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Red Crescent came to Beirut on 5 August 2020 and started search and rescue operations as well as other humanitarian aid activities. A few days later, on 8 August, Turkish Vice-President and Foreign Minister visited Beirut to express Turkey’s support and solidarity.

Since the explosion, Turkey has mobilized large quantities of humanitarian and technical equipment assistance to Lebanon through its specialized government agencies as well as Turkey-based humanitarian NGOs. Turkey’s assistance after the explosion has amounted to more than 4 million USD.

•        In light of the rapidly worsening economic conditions in Lebanon, Turkey currently focuses more on humanitarian assistance to address the urgent basic needs of the Lebanese people.

Since 2010, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has carried out 129 projects worth of 33.6 million USD in Lebanon, including the Turkish Trauma and Rehabilitation Hospital in Saida (with a total cost of approximately 20 million USD, including the recent additional cost of renovation and re-equipment). The total budget of TİKA-supported projects to be implemented in 2021 alone will amount to more than 600,000 USD.