The Emergency Building Scheme taken by the government of Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 808. Chapter XVIII: Town Planning and The Problem of Housing : Section 3: Measures Taken To Remedy The Position in Housing

CHAPTER XVIII.

62. The following is a summary of building schemes in course of implementation or preparation :-

Jewish

Arab communities

community

Emergency Building Scheme Municipal schemes

Housing assn. and private

companies

Jewish Agency schemes (balance until end of 1946)

Total

13,500 room units 7 ,500 room units

13,500 room units 3,750 room units

4,233 room units

10,000 room units

35,233 room units

17 ,250 room units

63. A memorandum descriptive of the Emergency Building Scheme, which was issued by the Controller of Heavy Industries on 27th July, 1945, is reproduced below.

The Emergency Building Scheme, 1945.

The present scheme for the construction of 27,000 Nominal Room Units arose out of data derived from a Survey of Housing Congestion carried out in Jerusalem in 1943 by the Central Bureau for Medical Statistics of the Hadassah Organization. This survey, together with similar enquiries carried out in Tel Aviv and Haifa, and a report by Mr. J. L. A. Watson, the City Engineer of Haifa, on the Housing Congestion in Arab urban areas, indicated that not less than 27,000 rooms were required to reduce the then existing state of congestion in the four main towns to 3 persons per room.

2. The information regarding the dangerous situation created by the Housing shortage, together with a list of imported materials required to relieve the position, was submitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on 25th July, 1944 and a month later a more extensive and revised list of the materials required was forwarded to London and Washington through the Middle East Supply Centre. General approval of the scheme was given by the Joint Planning Committee in Washington in November, 1944, together with authority for the placing of orders.

3. On 18th November, merchants in Palestine were authorised to apply for import licences and to place bulk orders for the materials required and, at the same time, negotiations were opened with the Importers with the object of securing their agreement to a considerable reduction in the normal rates of profit and overhead charges. These negotiations were highly successful and in the extreme case Housing Associations, Building Contractors and others, in a position to place large orders, are to be entitled to receive materials at the comparatively low charge of 4% over landed cost.

4. The arrangements which have been described are now bearing fruit and the Controller of Heavy Industries is glad to be able to report that considerable quantities of materials have arrived during the past ten days and that further supplies are

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