Preparations for winter to keep needy families
warm
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More than 120,000
beneficiaries in the villages of Marjeyoun, Bint Jbeil and Baalbeck, are currently having their damaged homes prepared for winter, thanks to World Vision's Lebanese Emergency Winter Intervention
project (LEWI).
Funded by a US$5,475,797 grant by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and a US$658,444 contribution from World Vision U.S., 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 the July 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
'Data from World Vision's most recent assessments demonstrated that villagers will 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 utilised for both cooking and home heating,' Khoury said. The sheeting provided will be heavy duty, reinforced plastic suitable for preventing leaking in 1,000 dwellings partially damaged during the war.
As a result of this project, World Vision will provide diesel oil coupons sufficient to enable 120,000 individuals to obtain fuel for heating at least one room per family dwelling. Stoves for heating and cooking will be provided for 4,500 families, and 30,000 blankets will be distributed.
In addition, the project covers the expenses of awareness leaflets and workshops about energy conservation that are being distributed and held in several areas of the benefiting villages.
Waterproof coating for some homes will also be painted onto the roofs of buildings to cover cracks and prevent leakage.
'World Vision will provide sufficient coating to cover at least one room (80 square metres) in each of 30,000 damaged homes,' Khoury said. He also noted that most homes will require more extensive renovation at a later date but require immediate measures to render them habitable for the winter.
Funded by a US$5,475,797 grant by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and a US$658,444 contribution from World Vision U.S., 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 the July 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
'Data from World Vision's most recent assessments demonstrated that villagers will 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 utilised for both cooking and home heating,' Khoury said. The sheeting provided will be heavy duty, reinforced plastic suitable for preventing leaking in 1,000 dwellings partially damaged during the war.
As a result of this project, World Vision will provide diesel oil coupons sufficient to enable 120,000 individuals to obtain fuel for heating at least one room per family dwelling. Stoves for heating and cooking will be provided for 4,500 families, and 30,000 blankets will be distributed.
In addition, the project covers the expenses of awareness leaflets and workshops about energy conservation that are being distributed and held in several areas of the benefiting villages.
Waterproof coating for some homes will also be painted onto the roofs of buildings to cover cracks and prevent leakage.
'World Vision will provide sufficient coating to cover at least one room (80 square metres) in each of 30,000 damaged homes,' Khoury said. He also noted that most homes will require more extensive renovation at a later date but require immediate measures to render them habitable for the winter.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
