Michael Douglas shares message of solidarity with Lebanon: 'I support the people of Beirut'

The Oscar-winning actor is a United Nations Messenger of Peace

Michael Douglas has shared a message of support for the people of Lebanon. Getty

Michael Douglas has sent a message of solidarity to the people of Lebanon, after last week's deadly blast.

The Oscar-winning American actor shared a short video on his Instagram page on Monday, where he voiced his thoughts for the capital city.

"As an individual and as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, I support the people of Beirut," said the 75-year-old Wall Street star.

Douglas tagged a number of organisations in the post, including the United Nations, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Unicef Lebanon.

The actor's post had been viewed more than 111,000 times 13 hours after its upload, with many fans sharing praise for his sentiment.

"Thank you sir for your thoughts," wrote one commenter, while another wrote: "From Beirut with love to you, sir."

The city was devastated by an explosion in Beirut's port on Tuesday, August 4, caused by 2,750 tonnes of stored ammonium nitrate.

Douglas's message comes as Wassim Slaiby, a Lebanese-Canadian music executive, announced the launch of Global Aid for Lebanon, a campaign to raise funds for the victims of the blast.

Slaiby teamed up with Global Citizen for the cause, donating $250,000 (Dh918,240) to launch the campaign.

"The people of Lebanon are strong, but they need our help. I am asking you to join us in making a donation to provide vital aid to Beirut," Slaiby, who is married to Miss USA 2010 winner Rima Fakih, posted on Instagram.

Funds raised will go to Red Cross Lebanon, the United Nations World Food Programme and the Children’s Cancer Centre Lebanon (CCCL).

"My heart aches for Lebanon," added Slaiby. The massive destruction scenes brought back to my memory the hard times I experienced with my parents during the war and that forced me to leave Lebanon at an early age following the loss of my dad."

Beirut governor Marwan Abboud said on Monday that more than 200 people have died, with more than 6,000 injured and many still missing.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has subsequently tendered the resignation of his government, after widespread protests.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who Douglas also tagged in his post, told UN member nations on Monday that the voices of Lebanon’s angry people “must be heard".

“It is important that a credible and transparent investigation determine the cause of the explosion and bring about the accountability demanded by the Lebanese people,” he said.

Guterres also pledged that "the United Nations will stand with Lebanon to help alleviate the immediate suffering and support its recovery".

Douglas has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 1998, as part of which he has hosted a documentary filmed in Sierra Leone focused on the plight of child soldiers.

Other international celebrities, including Kylie Jenner and Dua Lipa, shared messages of solidarity for the people of Lebanon last week, as did singer Halsey, 25, who was injured at Los Angeles's Black Lives Matter protests in June. In response, Halsey asked for information on the most effective way to help:

In the UAE, Emirates Red Crescent has set up a fund for Beirut, you can find that here.