BEIRUT, Aug 18: Hezbollah on Friday began distributing tens of thousands of dollars to residents in battered southern Beirut whose homes were hit during Israel’s month-long offensive targeting the Shia militia.

Families whose homes were destroyed received 12,000 US dollars each from Hezbollah officials operating out of a secondary school in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood.

“I received 12,000 dollars to rent a house for one year and to furnish it,” said Hajj Mohammed, 40, whose apartment in Bir Abed district was completely destroyed.

The money, counted out in 100 dollar bill increments by Hezbollah officials and handed to residents who lined up to take the cash, is meant to help pay for one year’s rent and new furniture, according to Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“Hezbollah has a programme to rebuild because people cannot live in the street,” said Hezbollah deputy Hossein Hajj Hassan, without saying where the funds had come from.

“We have sources of income, thank God,” he said, adding that it was “normal” for “Iranian social groups to help” Hezbollah. Iran and Syria are considered the main backers of Hezbollah, though they deny funding the group.—AFP