UN Unit Told Jordan and Syria Economically, Socially Hurt by Post-war Developments

Jordan and Syria have been affected adversely in the economic and social fields as a result of last June’s Six-Day War, the United Nations Economic and Social Council was informed today in a special study on “selected” development problems in various countries in the Middle East. The June war, according to the report, “affected Jordan in particular.” While financial assistance to Jordan was voted by the Arab summit conference at Khartoum, Sudan last Sept. 1, only $21.5 million has thus far been paid by Kuwait, Libya and Saudi Arabia to Jordan out of a total of $112 million yearly pledged, the report noted.

“Israel’s occupation of the West Bank of the Jordan River and of the Gaza Strip,” the report stated, “provoked an exodus from these areas to the East Bank, roughly estimated at 289,000 people in the period from June 5 to Dec. 31, 1967. As a result, the population of the East Bank increased roughly by one-fourth, causing a rapid expansion of the demand for food, shelter and basic services, including health and education. The East Bank area finds itself currently with a population of about 1.5 million, nearly half — 600,000 — of which consists of refugees and displaced persons with a constant trickle of people across the river to the East. While international assistance has contributed considerably, and continues to contribute, to meeting emergency needs and overcoming the dislocation and disruptions of educational and health service, the construction and insufficiency of housing and sheltering facilities have placed an abnormal strain on the resources which remain available to the country and its Government.”

Regarding Syria, the report stated that some 120,000 refugees had moved, as a result of the June hostilities, from the Kuneitra district which was occupied by Israel mainly to Damascus and Deraa. This movement has resulted in aggravating the problems of shelter, food, clothing, medical services and education “all of which call for urgent solution,” the report declared.