The Egyptian vessel Misr arrived at the Athens’ port of Piraeus today with 857 Jewish refugees from Egypt, bringing the total arriving in Europe since the expulsions started to 10,025.
The figure was listed by Charles H. Jordan, Joint Distribution Committee general director, who said that this meant more than 20 percent of the total Egyptian Jewish population had been forced out since November. Six hundred and seventy–four of the passengers were transferred immediately to the Mediterranean, a ship chartered by the Jewish Agency, which will sail for Israel tomorrow. The other 183 refugees were taken to Naples.
The growing destitution of Egyptian Jewry was indicated in the fact that the newest arrivals were more raggedly dressed than those arriving previously. Only 300 were able to pay their passage. The transportation was arranged by the International Red Cross, the second under those auspices on the Misr, which left Alexandria yesterday. Those boarding the Mediterranean included three hospital cases.
While the refugees remain in Athens, they will be cared for by the Council of Greek Jewish Communities, with JDC assistance. Exiles choosing not to go to Israel will be provided with passage and other assistance by the United Hias Service.
Most of the exiles are stateless persons by legal definition, although many trace their family in Egypt back several generations. All the Jews were searched before boarding the Misr and many personal possessions were taken from them by the Egyptian authorities. Each family boarding the vessel was allowed to take less than the equivalent of $15 in cash and over $700 in travelers checks against accounts frozen in Britain.
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