British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 802

CHAPTER XVIII.

45. The above detail figures indicate that, notwithstanding an average density of less than 2 persons per room, no fewer than 683 rooms are required in Hadera to reduce the real occupation density to 2 persons per room. This is of course due to the fact that• houses occupied at a lower density than 2 persons per room do not contribute in any way to the reduction of the actual density of the more congested areas. It is probable that the same conditions apply in the other small urban areas and that, in estimating the number of rooms required to reduce the density of occupation to an average of 2 persons per room, it will be necessary to apply a correction, as in the case of Hadera. This correction factor may be ascertained by comparison with an area in which actual densities obtained by survey are available for checking the apparent densities. Complete figures are available for Tel Aviv in which, at an apparent average density of 2.41 persons per room, the number of rooms required on the basis of the apparent average is 15,965 rooms. But on the basis of a detail survey the shortage amounts to 21,770 rooms. That is to say that the actual number of rooms required is 5,800 in excess of the apparent requirements, being an addition of 36% of the apparent additional rooms required.

46. Applying a correction on the above basis to the eight urban areas mentioned in tables 8 and 9, having a total population of 55,075 persons, the apparent number of rooms required is 5,650 to which must be added 36%, giving a total requirement of 7 ,684 room units. Applying that figure to the whole of the Jewish urban population, other than that resident in the four main towns, a requirement of 10,300 room units is obtained.

47. The following is a summary of the present congestion in Jewish urban areas as reflected by the various surveys, expressed in terms of room units required to reduce the density of occupation to an average of two persons per room :

Jerusalem

Tel Aviv & Jaffa (Jewish quarters) Haifa

Other Jewish urban centres

13,500 21,770 7,850 10,300

53,420

say, 53,400

The above figures are based on a total Jewish urban population of 423,000 persons as against the Government estimate of 395,000. Applying a correcting factor to the above figure, the congestion of the Jewish urban areas expressed in terms of room units won Id be 49,880; say 50,000.

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