In Lebanon, some progress has been made in rebuilding communities. As of 21 November, 73 villages in the south have received financial assistance (21 per cent. of total) and this process should be complete by the end of January 2007. The Jieh power station is being rehabilitated and 100 per cent. of all transmission lines have been repaired. 575 damaged schools have been rehabilitated. Six of the 24 destroyed bridges have been fully repaired and detours have been built around all other bridge locations. DFID provided six temporary bridges to the Lebanese authorities to help improve humanitarian access. 68 per cent. (1.7 million cubic metres) of rubble has been cleared. One of the most difficult problems is danger to civilians from unexploded bombs. So far over 16 per cent. (31.5 sq km) of land affected by unexploded ordnance has been cleared, supported by a DFID contribution of £1.5 million.
Israel has not asked for assistance from the UK, nor, to our understanding, from any other country. Residents returned rapidly to their homes after the ceasefire and our understanding is that the Government are providing compensation to those families who suffered damages. The Israel Emergency Campaign of the United Jewish Communities/federation system has raised nearly $330 million to help the most vulnerable Israeli communities in the north. For example it has made allocations for emergency small business grants, for school supplies for families living with financial hardship, and for school-readiness programs to help pupils return to normalcy before the start of the school year.