Forty thousand immigrants of the 90,000 housed in temporary camps a few months ago, have already been transferred to semi-permanent camps and work villages, Dr. George Josephthal, director of the settlement division of the Jewish Agency, said here today.
About half of the 50,000 immigrants still in camps, he said, are physically fit for work. The Agency plans, he said, provide for settling another 20,000 families or 60,000 persons before the end of next March.
In discussing the semi-permanent housing camps, Dr. Josephthal said that generally the type of housing there was compatible with the country’s climatic conditions. In Galiles, and in the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor, he said, 5,000 barracks of metal have already been constructed while in the lower areas, 3,000 canvas and wood tent structures have been built. He pointed out, however, that 4,000 families will spend the winter under canvas.
Of the residents of the semi-permanent camps, he said 40 percent are children under 14, and three percent infants under a year. Despite budget difficulties, he said, the Jewish Agency is spending 2,000,000 pounds ($5,600,000) yearly on child care in these semi-permanent camps alone but medical facilities, he added, are still below requirements.
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