French president announces fundraising for Beirut

French President Emmanuel Macron said an international fundraising conference for Lebanon will be held in the next few days after the deadly explosion that devastated Beirut.

On a visit to the gutted city, Macron said Thursday that France will organize a conference with European, American and Middle Eastern and other donors to raise money for food, medicine, housing and other urgent aid.

After visiting the devastated port, Macron walked through one of the worst-hit neighborhoods, Gemmayzeh, down a street lined with wrecked buildings.

Later, Macron met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and held a gathering with the head of the main parliament blocs.

''Beyond the explosion we know that the crisis here is deep and it requires a historical responsibility of the political class,'' Macron said.

Beirut residents blame years of corruption and mismanagement by Lebanon’s leaders for Tuesday’s explosion, which killed more than 130 people, wounded thousands and left tens of thousands homeless.