Jdc. Upa. Nrs Spent $26,000,000 in First Two Years of War, UJA Reports

A total of $26,170,365 was appropriated by the Joint Distribution Committee, the United Palestine Appeal and the National Refugee Service in the first two years of war for emergency relief rehabilitation for Jewish victims in many parts of the world, it was announced here today by the United Jewish Appeal, on the eve of the beginning of the third year of the war which brought catastrophe to practically all Jewish communities on the European continent.

“Since September, 1959, the Joint Distribution Committee appropriated a total of $12,945,072 for its activities overseas; the United Palestine Appeal $5,617,525 for its work in Palestine; and the National Refugee Service, $6,607,970 for help to newcomers in this country,” the announcement said.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE J.D.C.

In its program to evacuate Jewish victim of war and oppression from distress centers, the Joint Distribution Committee helped 43,500 persons to emigrate from European countries during the first two years of the war. It provided daily care to approximately 500,000 persons in German-occupied Poland. It assisted 150,000 Jews in Greater Germany. It helped 26,000 Jews in unoccupied France and from 8,000 to 10,000 in the occupied zone.

The J.D.C. also brought aid to thousands of Jewish refugees in Switzerland, Rumania, Hungary, Italy, Yugoslavia, Sweden and Finland. After the German conquest of Yugoslavia, it was able to provide a measure of relief to the native Jewish population as well. It helped 2,000 Polish Jewish refugees in Lithuania to emigrate to Japan, and enabled hundreds to re-emigrate overseas. It met the emergency which arose when 4,500 Jewish refugees came to Japan from Europe by relief and emigration programs. It assisted more than half of the 20,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai and continued its rehabilitation work on behalf of thousands among the 110,000 Jewish immigrants in 17 Central and South American countries. It also financed training and furnished transportation costs for more than 6,000 emigrants to Palestine and made grants to 60 Palestinian cultural and religious institutions.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE U.P.A.

During the period since September, 1959, a total of 35,000 Jewish refugees were admitted into Palestine with the aid of the United Palestine Appeal despite obstacles of immigration resulting from the war. The U.P.A. expenditures during the two-year period included grants for immigration and training, acquisition of land in the name of the whole Jewish people, extension of relief to the unemployed as a result of the dislocations of war, vocational guidance and training for the thousands of refugees to integrate them into the economic life of the country. Fourteen new agricultural settlements to house the newcomers were established through U.P.A. support in the first two years of the conflict. The U.P.A. al extended its aid to the industrial development of the country to increase the opportunities for the absorption of thousands of newly-arrived refugees.

During 1959-1940, the funds in Palestine which receive their aid from the United Palestine Appeal, i.e., the Keren Hayesod and Keren Kayemeth, spent a total of £1,938,700 (about $8,000,000). The expenditures for the subsequent period through June, 1941 totaled £1,328,569.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE N.R.S.

In the first two years of the war almost 70,000 refugees escaped to America, most of them aided by the National Refugee Service Migration Department. In these two years N.R.S. has given financial aid to 29,000 refugees, expending a total of $3,500,000 on this item. Thus, relief represents by far the largest cost in the $6,607,970 N.R.S. has spent since the beginning of the war. Since September, 1939, N.R.S. has resettled 9,000 refugees, and has provided employment for 11,000 applicants, while the various special committees have made an additional 4,000 placements of doctors, musicians, rabbis, social workers.