U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka has expressed deep regret over “the inability of Lebanon’s leaders to reach agreement on the formation of a new government that is urgently needed to address the country’s numerous challenges,” a statement said.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has met with World Food Program Deputy Country Director Nicolas Oberlin and others to learn more about the World Food Program’s ongoing efforts to address the deteriorating food security situation in Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy said on Friday.

The European Union on Friday called on Lebanese politicians to urgently form a new Cabinet, hours after Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced his resignation.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Lebanese leaders are responsible for solving "the current domestic, self-made crisis," adding that it is urgent to form a new cabinet quickly.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan said Friday the government would scrap subsidies on medicines costing less than 12,000 Lebanese pounds to shore up foreign currency reserves.

Hassan affirmed that the list of subsidized medicines includes medicines for chronic diseases, children’s formula milk, vaccines, as well as medicines to treat psychiatric and neurological diseases.

President Michel Aoun stressed Friday that Lebanon “will manage to overcome the difficult circumstances,” only hours after PM-designate Saad Hariri stepped down, a move that deepened the major uncertainty that crisis-hit Lebanon is going through at all levels.

“Lebanon will manage to overcome the difficult circumstances that it is currently going through at all levels, because events have proved that the will to life of the Lebanese have always enabled them to defeat various difficulties,” Aoun said, during a Baabda meeting with a delegation from the NDU university.

Al-Jadeed television, which held a lengthy interview with resigned PM-designate Saad Hariri overnight, has published the line-up that the PM-designate submitted to President Michel Aoun prior to his resignation.

Below is the draft line-up presented by Hariri:

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday that PM-designate Saad Hariri's resignation was proof that "Lebanese officials are unable to find a way out of the crisis," accusing them of "cynical self-destruction."

A spokesman for the U.N. meanwhile described the development as regrettable, reiterating calls for a government capable of addressing the country's "numerous challenges" to be put together rapidly.

Resigned Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday blamed President Michel Aoun for the failure to form a new government, as he announced that he would not nominate a successor for the PM post.

Pharmacies have announced an open-ended strike as of Friday over medicine shortages, “until the Ministry of Health approves the price indexes and provides protection for pharmacies.”

Pharmacists have been facing “daily harassments” that can be “life threatening” as a result of the shortage of medicines in pharmacies, the association of pharmacy owners stated.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday announced that he is quitting the government formation mission, following talks with President Michel Aoun in Baabda.

“I met with the President and we held consultations over the government. During the discussions, the President requested essential changes and we discussed the issue related to the vote of confidence and the issue of naming the two Christian ministers,” Hariri said after a 20-minute meeting.