The 14,000 Jews surviving in the Hongkew slum section Shanghai, which the Japanese turned into a ghetto during the war, are still desperately in need of clothing and housing, although they are being fed by the Joint distribution Committee and UNRRA, an investigation by a Jewish Telegraphic Agency respondent reveals. Most of the refugees are deeply concerned over the possibilities of emigration and re-establishing themselves in other countries.
With immediate food relief being provided and clothing promised by UNRRA officials, the most pressing problem still to be solved is housing. The majority of the refugees live in crowded camps, in various make-shift huts and in scantily furnished basement apartments. These housing arrangements have one thing in common–lack of elementary sanitation and of even the most primitive conveniences. With a general housing shortage that exists in Shanghai, there seems to be no hope of moving the Jews from their hovels and furnishing them with living quarters which breach any degree of comfort and sanitation.
The morale of the Jews is suffering because they cannot begin to rebuild their lives until they are enabled to emigrate to a country of their choice. Apparently only a few of them desire to remain in China and be absorbed within that nation’s economy. Most of the others are faced with the problem of no capital to start them out in a new country, and the older people fear that their ability to work will not up to the standards required to make ends meet in a new country. All of them want provide for themselves and be done with relief, but few can find means of accomplishing this sin.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
