August 24, 2008

By HAVIV RETTIG

Some 100 olim fled the fighting in Georgia since its outbreak on August 8. Many were fleeing a war zone or approaching Russian forces, and so could not bring most of their possessions with them.

Using a $100,000 grant from Keren Hayesod, the Jewish Agency is providing each oleh with $1,000 to help them pay for basic provisions during the absorption process.

Meanwhile, the toll-free hotline operated by the agency and the government remains open for the new olim and those still in Georgia considering aliya.

According to agency figures, another 100 Georgian Jews have registered for aliya, but have yet to make the move.

Georgia returned to relative quiet last week as Russian forces retreated from the center of the country into the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.