The Georgian-Russian war prompted a big flow of population movement from Georgia to Armenia. After the end of active military actions, specialists of the Armenian Migration Agency of the Territorial Ministry and UNHCR Armenia Agency visited three crossing points on the Armenian-Georgian border to study the situation on the ground. According to UNHCR Armenia Agency, some 11,000 people crossed into Armenia through Bagratashen border check point on August 8-18. For comparison, three days before the standoff, on August 5-7 only 400 foreigners crossed into Armenia through Bagratashen. Part of foreigners who fled to Armenia used it as a transit country to fly home. The majority of foreigners were ethnic Armenians, citizens of Georgia-women and children who sought safe refuge in Armenia at their relatives and friends. There were also ethnic Georgians and ethnic Ossetians, as well as Russian citizens of Armenian origin, fleeing Georgia, and also foreign diplomats, members of their families and personnel of international organizations in Georgia. The UNHCR Armenia Agency has set up a task force with other UN agencies in Armenia to examine the movement of population together with Armenian government to be prepared for emergency situations if there is the need to show humanitarian aid.
