Middle East crisis live: Rebuilding Gaza will cost $30bn to $40bn, UN says as scale of distruction is ‘huge and unprecedented’

UN agency says reconstruction will require effort on a scale unseen since second world war

The EU has offered Lebanon a financial package of 1bn (855m / $1.07bn), European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Beirut on Thursday.

The funds would be available from this year until 2027, von der Leyen told a joint news conference with Lebanon's prime minister Najib Mikati and Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides.

This continued EU support will strengthen basic services such as education, social protection and health for the people in Lebanon. It will accompany urgent economic, financial and banking reforms. Furthermore, support will be provided to the Lebanese armed forces and other security forces with equipment and training for border management and to fight against smuggling.