Jerash were born in the camp, compared to 81% of ex-Gazans in other camps and 78% of other camp Palestinians). Cost and ownership For many ex-Gaza residents of Jerash, particularly families, moving out of the camp— either to another camp, or to another area in Jordan — seems economically infeasible. Property in Jerash camp is relatively cheap compared to other areas (including in Hitteen camp), reflecting the poor state of its economy, and so the sale of a dwelling there is unlikely to be sufficient to purchase another elsewhere. With many residents describing a hand-to-mouth existence, and few households having significant savings (see chapter 3) gathering together the capital required to make such a move was generally viewed as impossible. One interviewee lamented the difficulties of saving when relying on irregular work: Yes [there is good work in summer], but you make 50 JD here, 50 JD there. Okay, say you manage to save 1,000 JD — would you be able to buy a piece of land with that? [Interviewer: You’ve tried saving before?] Yes, all the time, but all the savings disappear over the winter. You need to get gas, and kerosene, and clothes and food. There are many expenses in winter. One of the kids gets sick — everything happens in winter185. Even for former camp residents who have moved out for more profitable work, such as owning and managing shops in Tharil Saru in Jerash town, the returns are often not as high as may be expected: I end up with a profit that is equivalent to any employee. After paying the rent of the shop, which is 200 JD, paying 120 JD for my flat, electricity, licensing, and car expenses, I end up with an amount just like employees’ salaries. [...] I end up with 200 JD 186. Furthermore, even if an ex-Gaza family or individual were able to afford to buy a house or piece of land, legal restrictions (discussed in more detail in chapter 1) have generally prevented ex-Gazans from owning property outside camps. Therefore, to move out of the camps completely, they must either register their property in the name of a Jordanian, with its concomitant risks, or rely on rented accommodation 187. Renting may also be the only option for a move to a different camp if they are unable to afford to buy there. This is not only a less secure and stable option, for which giving up an (effectively) ‘owned’ property 188 in Jerash camp may not seem sensible, but it also requires a regular, reliable income. Given what has been seen already with regards to exGazans’ often unstable employment situation and the unlikelihood of them obtaining a formal contract, renting carries a particular risk. Several interviewees explained that the expense of renting would also be a significant inroad into any extra earnings that the family may make as a result of the move, particularly bearing in mind the numerous examples interviewees gave of ex-Gazans being paid below the market or minimum rates for Jordanians. Female, age 55, Jerash camp, 31 January 2016. Male, age 24, Jerash town, 15 February 2016. 187 In November 2018, it was announced that the real estate market would be opened to ex-Gazans (Jordan Times, 2018). 188 Camps are built on state owned or leased land. As such refugees do not formally own the land on which their houses are built, only the ‘right of use’ to the house. 185 186 Fafo Report 2019:34 110