British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 797

CHAPTER XVIII.

35. The above deficiency of 484 rooms is in respect of 5 villages containing a total population of 2 ,984 persons being a deficiency of 160 rooms per 1,000 of population. If this figure is accepted as a fair average for the Arab rural population the total deficiency in the Arab rural areas is 128 ,000 rooms. It has been seen that the natural increase of Arab rural population during the decade under consideration would appear to require 160,000 rooms for its accommodation. The difference of 32 ,000 rooms must, therefore, be attributed to buildings constructed during the period. The net deficiency in the Arab rural area will, therefore, be accepted as of the order of 128,000 rooms. Even at the qualified definition of the accommodation for Arab village families mentioned in paragraph 31, the estimated deficiency of 128,000 is probably considerably greater than the actual deficiency which is realised by the villagers themselves and also probably greater than their financial capacity to provide. When newly married the young village couple would probably regard themselves as adequately housed in a single room to which additions could be made as the family grows; it must not be overlooked, however, that this single room must not only serve as living, sleeping and cooking quarters but will also be used for the storage of grain and other foodstuffs between harvests and the lares and penates of the villager. This subject is dealt with in the "Survey of the Social and Economic Conditions of Arab villages" already mentioned and to which further reference will be made below.

(4). Deficiency in room units and rooms constructed in Arab areas during the period 1936-1945.

36. Urban areas :

(a) No. of room units required to provide

for natural increase (vide paragraph 29) 67,000

(b) No. of room units required to provide

for immigrants (vide paragraph 32) 4,500

Total room units 71,500

(c) Deduct estimated No. of room units constructed in urban areas (1936-1945} (Vide paragraph 33) 86,000

Net deficiency in room units (1945) 85,500

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