The UN human rights office is calling for an independent investigation of the Beirut bombing, insisting that "victims’ calls for accountability must be heard," AP reported.

Rupert Colville, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, pointed to the need for the international community to "step up" aid to Lebanon.

He noted Lebanon faced a “triple tragedy of a socio-economic crisis, COVID-19 and the ammonium nitrate explosion" that devastated the capital on Tuesday.

Colville also called for respect for the poor and the most vulnerable in the rebuilding of Beirut and Lebanon and called on Lebanese leaders to “overcome political stalemates and address the grievances of the population.”