Amman: Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri announced that the government has adopted a final and comprehensive solution to the long-standing issue of refugee camp lands owned by private citizens, which have remained unusable for nearly 78 years due to "legal complexities, multiple heirs, and judicial disputes."
According to Jordan News Agency, Masri explained that the solution involves fair and consensual compensation by exchanging privately owned lands where camps are built with state-owned lands of equal value. This approach aims to resolve legal disputes and restore owners' rights without resorting to the courts.
Masri highlighted the government's previous successes in resolving similar cases and emphasized their commitment to closing this chronic issue in a manner that preserves citizens' rights and serves the public interest. The approach also maintains the symbolic, political, and legal significance of the camps concerning the refugee issue.
Under the decision, privately owned plots hosting camps in Amman, Zarqa, and Madaba will be exchanged for state-owned lands within the same governorates of equivalent value. On the other hand, owners of lands hosting camps in Irbid, Balqa, and Jerash will be compensated with state-owned lands outside their governorates of equal value due to the unavailability of treasury land in those areas.
Additionally, the decision includes annexing state-owned lands that have been encroached upon and are located outside the boundaries of Hittin Camp to within its limits, facilitating their transfer to the Department of Palestinian Affairs.
The Cabinet approved the solutions on Sunday, aiming to end existing legal disputes and ease the financial burden on the treasury. This decision is based on the principle of fair compensation and the owners' consent, similar to previous arrangements adopted for Talbiyeh Camp in the Al-Jeeza District.
The Cabinet also tasked the Department of Lands and Survey with preparing a detailed study on the proposed plots for exchange and their estimated values. Furthermore, the Department of Palestinian Affairs was assigned to form a specialized committee to negotiate directly with landowners and conclude temporary lease contracts until the necessary studies are completed, ensuring that each owner receives a plot or share equivalent to the value of their property. Ultimately, the lands hosting the camps will revert to state ownership.
In November, the prime minister decided to form a committee chaired by the director general of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation. This committee will study the use of state lands, especially in governorates that include camps built on privately owned land, for exchange purposes and allocate annual funds for housing projects.