The government has decided to support relief efforts by the Red Cross with €50,000 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will donate an additional €50,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund as humanitarian aid to support children affected by the blast.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) said: "Estonia supports the people of Lebanon is this complicated and tragic time. The situation in Lebanon was already fragile before the explosion. The rapid and strong reaction by the international community has been indispensable."

The sum allocated from the government's reserve will go towards ensuring medical care, shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to those injured. 

The foreign minister added that in addition to preliminary relief, political support to Lebanon's stability and security must also continue through the UN.

The European Union has granted Lebanon €33 million to help cover immediate needs and promised to donate supplementary €30 million.

The blast happened in the Lebanese capital's port district a little after 6 p.m. local time on August 4, causing widespread and devastating damage to buildings, homes and other facilities. At the time of writing the death toll stands at 131. The thousands of injuries threaten to overload the city's hospitals.

The source is believed to be a large ammonium nitrate store, which had ignited. The country has declared a two-week state of emergency.

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