Damaged homes in the villages of Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Baalbek in Lebanon will be renovated, as World Vision's Lebanese Emergency Winter Intervention (LEWI) project funds more than 120,000 beneficiaries.

"Funded by a $5,475,797 USD grant by the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and a $658,444 USD contribution from World Vision US, LEWI is a six-month project that will cover the distribution of diesel oil, blankets, plastic sheets, waterproof coating and cooking stoves for families whose houses were totally or partially destroyed by last year's summer war with Israel," World Vision said.

"Data from World Vision's most recent assessments demonstrated that villagers would face many problems with the beginning of the winter season," said George Khoury, LEWI grant manager.

"People who were displaced during the conflict returned to damaged and leaking homes, heaters and blankets were either damaged or lost along with other belongings during the war.

There was an urgent need for diesel fuel as a source of energy for home heaters," Khoury said, adding that World Vision's assessments after the crisis have made it clear that there is an urgent need for materials to help insulate homes, as well as for blankets, heaters and diesel fuel, the primary means of home heating in the area.

"The LEWI grant allows World Vision to provide plastic sheeting for insulating and preparing homes for winter, as well as blankets, heating fuel and heaters. The heaters to be procured are typically used in rural areas of Lebanon and are utilized for both cooking and home heating," Khoury said.

The sheeting provided will be heavy duty, World Vision reports, including reinforced plastic suitable for preventing leaking in 1,000 dwellings partially damaged during the war.