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Lebanon has ricocheted from one crisis to another in the last two years. But what now as the country is placed under a state of emergency following a huge explosion in Beirut’s port area?

Lebanon is in mourning after an explosion in Beirut’s port on 4 August killed at least 135 people and left thousands injured.

The blast comes at a difficult time for Lebanon which is not only trying to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but is also mired in an unprecedented economic crisis.

The country’s economic situation has pushed tens of thousands people into poverty and triggered large anti-government protests that have escalated over the last few months.

Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban reports and Kirsty Wark is joined by the Lebanese Ambassador to the UK Rami Mortada, former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt and American-Lebanese activist Jude Chebab.