The Northern California Jewish Bulletin reports that a national registry of people who may have been overexposed to radiation in the former USSR has been established, and every immigrant registered as coming from a contaminated area will receive educational material explaining, in Russian, the effects of radiation exposure and possible cures (30 Oct. 1992). The same source also reports that immigrants from the former USSR are being examined by physicians at the Ben-Gourion University-Soroka Medical Center in Bersheeva and referred for follow-up treatment (ibid.).

Although unable to provide specific details, a representative of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) in Jerusalem stated that there are special medical programs in Israel for Soviet immigrants coming from contaminated areas of the former USSR (23 Feb. 1994).

A representative of the Soviet Jewry Zionist Forum in Jerusalem was unable to confirm whether there are any special medical programs for Soviet immigrants coming from the Chernobyl areas (24 Feb. 1994). The same source stated, however, that all immigrants coming from the former USSR under the Law of Return are entitled to Israeli citizenship and are eligible for health care subsidized by the National Health Care Funds (ibid.).

For information on whether such program would be denied on the basis of nationality or religion, please refer to Responses to Information Requests ISR15097 of 2 September 1993 and ISR14267 of 3 August 1993. Additional information could not be found among the sources currently available at the DIRB in Ottawa.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Jerusalem. 23 February 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Northern California Jewish Bulletin. 30 October 1992. Nancy Fox. "Chernobyl Patients Challenge ben-Gourion U. Physicians." (NEXIS)

Soviet Jewry Zionist Forum, Jerusalem. 24 February 1994. Telephone interview with a representative.

Northern California Jewish Bulletin. 30 October 1992. Nancy Fox. "Chernobyl Patients Challenge ben-Gourion U. Physicians." (NEXIS)