UN: humanitarian crisis in Lebanon following Tuesday's devastating assassination in Beirut

Lebanon was suffering a major economic downturn before the explosion, which left at least 154 people dead, 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless.

The World Food Programme said that damage to Beirut's port would cut food supplies and raise prices.

The World Health Organization said the health system was seriously damaged, with three hospitals out of place.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun rejected calls for an international investigation into the bombing, and said local authorities would consider whether it was caused by “external intervention”, such as a bomb.

The leader of Hezbollah's militant movement, Hassan Nasrallah, also denied claims that he had stored weapons or ammunition at the port.

The government has said the blast was the result of the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been safely stored in port for six years.

The decision to keep so many explosives at a depot near the city centre has been met with distrust and rage from many Lebanese, who have long accused the political elite of corruption, neglect and mismanagement.