Officials reported today that more than 1,000 families have been evacuated from the Jebaliya and Shati refugee camps in the Gaza Strip to clear the way for additional security roads and that most of them have found alternative housing by themselves. Some 250 families were provided with housing in El Arish in northern Sinai and about 150 received housing in other parts of the Strip. The officials said the evacuations would continue in two phases. One will be in accordance with housing space to be found in El Arish or in the Strip. The second will be when new housing has been completed for the evacuees who cannot find housing on their own. The entire operation will continue until the refugee camps have been revamped to satisfy Israeli authorities on security requirements. The new housing will be built near cities in the Strip, including Khan Yunis, Raffah and Dier El Balah. Meanwhile, the officials reported, there are still empty flats in El Arish that can house another 600 families. All evacuees have been assured continuation of food rations, schooling and medical treatment provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Strip.
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.
