A Lebanese economist says Beirut is ‘completely destroyed’ and the situation on the ground is so dire that it is ‘beyond a national disaster’

France will send two military planes and 15 tons of equipment to Lebanon, as the international effort to assist the country intensifies.

The aid package includes two military planes, 55 personnel, 15 tons of equipment and a mobile clinic able to care for 500 wounded people, according to a statement from the Elysée Palace Wednesday.

The personnel and equipment is scheduled to arrive on Thursday afternoon.

In addition, 10 emergency health professionals will try to reach Beirut as soon as possible to assist the hospitals in the Lebanese capital.

The Elysée Palace said French members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had already stepped in to assist with the crisis on Tuesday evening.

France joins Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, which have al pledged to send field hospitals to the Lebanese capital.