British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Supplement - Page 26

REFUGEES.

(p. 223)

Up to early in 1946 the relief of Polish refugees in Palestine was carried out by the Polish welfare delegation on behalf of the London Polish Government in exile. As from the date on which His Majesty's Government withdrew recognition from the London Polish Government this relief was provided by the Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Affairs, using as its local agent the Palestine Government, which in turn established a Government Committee for Polish Affairs. But from the 1st August, lfl46, responsibility for Polish refugees in Palestine was assumed by U .N .R. R.A. which continued to make use of the services of the Government Committee for Polish Affairs. Some 3,000 Poles were in receipt of relief allowances from funds formerly remitted by the London Polish Government, and subsequently from funds made available by the Interim Treasury Committee. The scales of relief paid by the latter were as follows :-

Single person Married couple

Family of three persons Family of four persons Family of five or more persons

£P.12 per month £P .23 per month £P.33 per month £.40 per month £P.48 per month

When U.N.R.R.A. assumed responsibility, it was necessary to revise these rates and bring them into conformity with those agreed upon between U.N.RR.A. and H.M.G.

A separate problem has been presented by those Polish Jews who are in possession of immigration certificates. These are deemed not to be refugees, and responsibility for their relief has been disclaimed by the Interim Treasury Committee and by U.N.R.R.A. In order to avoid hardship special financial provision has been made by the Palestine Government to enable certain categories to continue in receipt of relief.

The number of non-Jewish refugees who have been assumed to be only temporarily resident in Palestine includes 7 ,500 Poles. In addition to these there are about 2,500 Polish Jews in possession of immigration certificates. There is also in Palestine a large number believed to be in the neighbourhood of 3,600 of Jewish deserters from the Polish Forces. These have for the most part been absorbed into the Jewish community. It is considered unlikely that many of these will wish to leave Palestine.

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