HC Deb 30 April 1956 vol 552 cc5-6W
56. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the increase from 887,058 registered refugees in Jordan in 1954 to 906,000 in 1955 is due to natural increase or to additional refugees; what is the estimated calorific value per day in the ordinary rations distributed; how many, and what percentage, of the able-bodied men are employed; and what progress has been made in respect of projects providing agricultural or other employment.

Lord John Hope

The increase in the numbers of Palestine refugees in 1955 to approximately 906.000 was due to the natural increase (between 20,000 and 25,000 a year), modified by the removal from the ration rolls of refugees resettled and by deaths.

The estimated calorific value per day of the ordinary (i.e. basic food) rations distributed is about 1,500 in summer and 1,600 in winter.

The numbers of able-bodied men employed are not immediately available as the published statistical returns of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency refer to refugees irrespective of sex and to families. During 1954–55, the Agency's Placement Service found employment for 30,454 individuals. Furthermore, a total of 5,800 refugees were permanently removed from the ration rolls and 37,902 temporarily. These removals were in respect of refugees in receipt of employment.

45,000 refugees were engaged in fundamental or adult education activities in the Agency's thirty-nine fundamental education centres. The significance of the foregoing should be assessed in the light of the fact that approximately 50 per cent. of the total numbers of registered refugees are children of 15 years of age and under.

Major progress in resettlement awaits the outcome of technical and political discussions on two major irrigation projects. one for the Jordan Valley and the other for the Western Sinai Desert in Egypt. Over a period of years the two projects together might provide a livelihood for as many as 200,000 refugees.

Among the current projects which should enable refugees to become self-supporting are:

A tent factory near Jericho which provides a livelihood for about 750 people;

Five small agricultural villages in the Jordan Valley, in which a total of 176 families have been established;

Loans of nearly 1 million dollars through the Jordan Development Bank, largely financed by U.N.R.W.A., which in turn have financed 141 farmers or farm projects and 16 commercial projects;

Many grants to individuals for their own small businesses;

An experimental desert farm in Syria housing fifty families;

Afforestation of part of the Gaza strip to protect potentially productive land;

Rug weaving, sewing and embroidery projects in Gaza, to he duplicated in Syria, Jordan and the Lebanon.