Pedro Sánchez calls for coordinated international action in support of Lebanese people following tragedy on 4 August

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Spain immediately responded to the call from the Lebanese Red Cross by sending a shipment of emergency aid. Pedro Sánchez recalled that Spain is the second largest contributor of troops on the UN peacekeeping and stability mission in southern Lebanon and offered to provide humanitarian aid through UNIFIL, to which end it would need a "change of mandate" from the United Nations.

The President of the Government stressed that "Lebanon will need a great deal of support to address the damage caused and we must work together to offer this in the most effective and coordinated manner". And he added that Spain will also pay "close attention to potential future international calls for assistance".

The announcement made by the President of the Government strengthens Spain's existing commitment to Lebanon. Our country is the second largest contributor of troops, after Italy, to the UNIFIL mission - the UN peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon. Spain has deployed 610 troops to contribute to stability in the region, the largest deployment abroad since 2006. Spain also holds the command of the Eastern Sector of the mission.

On Tuesday, 11 August, an air force plane will fly to Beirut with emergency material for the Red Cross which includes medicines and such medical supplies as individual protective equipment for their use at mobile clinics and health centres, and has supplied "equipment for shelters" for those people that have lost their homes in the explosion. The shipment donated by Spain also includes 10 tonnes of wheat from the Olof Palme International Foundation. The shipment seeks to alleviate the lack of this cereal, since the explosion on 4 August destroyed several warehouses with the amount of wheat necessary to bake bread for three months.

Pedro Sánchez recalled that "the Spanish people have acted swiftly" since last Thursday, in that five professionals from Andalusia and four sniffer dogs from the NGO Specialist Group in Dog Rescues in Disasters using the Arcón Method flew to the area to help in the rescue operation.

Pedro Sánchez stressed to the participants to "help Lebanon tackle the profound economic and financial crisis that has led the country to the verge of collapse". And he added that, "the urgent economic reforms needed cannot wait. The Government of Lebanon must also act now".

The meeting, called by President Macron and the UN, involved the participation of 26 countries, the main international financial institutions, together with the European Union. The most important international leaders included the Heads of State and Government of France, the USA, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar. The participants also included the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, among others.

Pedro Sánchez concluded his speech by hoping that "this terrible event at least paves the way for international and national coordinated action to lay the foundations for a better future. The people of Lebanon deserve this and Spain is disposed to contributing to this collective effort".

Non official translation