BRITAIN pledged to double its aid to Lebanon to £12 million yesterday to help the country to cope with the aftermath of the war, as Hilary Benn, the International Development Secretary, accused Israel of using disproportionate force.

Speaking after a visit to battle-scarred areas of Beirut, where he met Shia Muslim refugees returning to their homes in the south, Mr Benn joined other Cabinet colleagues who have criticised Israel’s conduct of the war.

While insisting that Israel had a right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Hezbollah, Mr Benn said that destroying the country’s infrastructure was unacceptable.

“I have to say, I would find it very hard to describe the bombing of power stations, water treatment plants — indeed two Red Cross vehicles were attacked during the conflict . . . as a proportionate response,” he said.

The Lebanese authorities estimate that Israeli bombing killed more than 1,000 Lebanese and caused $2.2 billion (£1.2 billion) in damage to 70 bridges, power plants, oil storage sites and the runways of the country’s only international airport as well as homes.

The result is that in addition to the huge humanitarian task of helping an estimated one million refugees, the country’s roads are paralysed, there is a huge oil slick off the coast and getting help into Lebanon remains very difficult.

At the international airport in Beirut yesterday, officials said that commercial flights could resume in a matter of days once the runways, hit by 18 Israeli bombs, were repaired. First, however, Israel will have to lift its air embargo.

Other projects will take much longer. Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese Prime Minister, asked for Britain’s help in repairing bridges. Mr Benn said that he had decided to divert half the additional £6 million announced yesterday to bridge reconstruction.

Other European donors are also expected to help. The bulk of the foreign aid will come from the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Apart from infrastructure, the worst damage is to private homes, mainly belonging to Shia residents in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The country’s tourism industry will also take a long time to recover. Before the conflict, Lebanese businesses were predicting that 2006 would be the industry’s best year since 1974, the year before the civil war broke out, and anticipating nearly two million visitors.

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