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French President Emmanuel Macron has called for swift action to help Lebanon, when he led an international aid summit five days after the devastating explosion in Beirut.
The help needed to reach the Lebanese people efficiently, he said.
US President Donald Trump is among those attending the online meeting.
Officials estimate the blast at a warehouse, which stored more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, caused up to $ 15 billion (£ 11.5bn) in damage.
The blast killed at least 158 people, injured 5,000 and left 300,000 homeless.
On Saturday, several thousand people took to the streets in anger, with police officers shedding tears at stone-throwing protesters and some protesters storming government ministries.
In a televised address, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he would call for early elections as a way out of the crisis. The issue will be discussed in cabinet on Monday.
Lebanon was already in a deep economic crisis and was struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic before the explosion swept through Beirut.
An anti-government protest movement erupted last October, fueled by the financial situation and a collapsing currency.
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad became the first official to be fired in the wake of the blast. Announcing her decision to act, she cited the government’s failure to carry out reform and the “Beirut disaster” as its reasons for leaving.
What happens on Sunday?
“The goal today is to act quickly and effectively to coordinate our aid on the ground so that it goes as efficiently as possible to the Lebanese people,” Mr Macron said.
International support should also go to an impartial, credible and independent inquiry into how the disaster might happen, he told fellow leaders.
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Large crowds swarmed Mr. Macron during his visit to the city
Representatives of the member states of the European Union, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Kingdom were also allowed to attend, with many others invited to attend.
In a statement, the UK said it would pledge an extra £ 20m in “urgent humanitarian aid” during Sunday’s talks, on top of a £ 5m aid package announced earlier this week.
“This support will help the most vulnerable in the country due to the existing economic uncertainty and additional suffering caused by the explosion by going directly to those families who are most at risk to cover essential survival, including access to food and medicine,” said it.
In a series of tweets, President Trump said he had discussed the “catastrophic event” in Beirut with Mr Macron and would even take part in the call.
“Everyone wants to help!” he wrote.
A number of countries have already pledged millions of dollars worth and sent ships, health workers and equipment to help Beirut.
But UN agencies have called for more help and warned of the massive challenge ahead. Many homes are without water or electricity, there are growing food shortages, and cases of Covid-19 spike in the country – an additional challenge for hospitals that are already overwhelmed.
“The needs are immediate and they are enormous,” Unicef spokeswoman Marixie Mercado told reporters in Geneva on Friday.
What happened during the protests?
The aid conference comes at noon due to continuing anger over the government’s failure to stop the explosion.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 people gathered on Saturday for demonstrations, to show that anger and also to remember those victims of the explosion.
As the protests unfolded, moths of gallows were erected in Martyrs’ Square to commemorate the demonstrations of the country’s political leaders.
Skirmishes began early, with police responding to rocks and sticks thrown by Protestants with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Police confirmed to the news agency Reuters that live ammunition had been fired in the center of Beirut, although it is not clear by whom.
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One officer died after falling into an elevator in a hotel, according to reports after being chased there by Protestants.
The local Red Cross said it treated 117 injured people at the scene. Another 55 were taken to hospital.
Thousands of protesters stormed government offices and the country’s banking association headquarters.
The raids began after a group of people chanting anti-government slogans and burned a portrait of President Michel Aoun came to the Foreign Ministry and called for all ministries to be occupied.
Reports suggest that security forces have taken over the buildings since the occupants reopened.
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