Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Sixty-sixth biweekly implementation report (OCHA)

Report No. 66

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(14 – 27 May 2008)

The United Nations is submitting the 66^th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 14 – 27 May 2008 (Annex)². In light of the closure of Gaza, this report also monitors movement and access through other crossings not included in the AMA.

Summary:

AMA Benchmarks:

• Rafah crossing has remained closed for the movement of people for 353 working days. It was last open on 09 June 2007. However, 70 Palestinians from Gaza who were stranded on the Egyptian side of the border, were allowed to cross in. No body was allowed out.

• Karni crossing has been closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. The single-lane conveyor belt/chute for wheat grain and animal feed was open on five days (19, 20, 21, 25 and 27 May), the same number as reported in the previous reporting period. 191 truckloads of grain and animal feed entered Gaza, via the conveyor belt, compared to 350 in the previous reporting period.

• Erez crossing has remained closed for more than two years since March 2006 for workers, and for more than a year, since 12 June 2007, for all other Palestinians, except for a limited number of Palestinian traders, aid workers and medical cases who have been granted special permits. For these persons, Erez crossing was partially open 12 out of the 14 scheduled days.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank decreased from 609 reported during the pervious reporting period to 605. Overall, the figure of 605 represents an increase of 229 obstacles (60.9%) over the baseline figure of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

• Sufa crossing was open on 11 days compared to 8 days in the previous reporting period, during which 502 truckloads, including 126.5 from humanitarian agencies, were allowed into Gaza.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was not open at all during the reporting period. It was last open on 19 April 08.

• Nahal Oz crossing was open partially on 9 out of 10 scheduled days. 130,000 liters of petrol (9,285/day), 1,975,010 liters of diesel (141,072/day), 1,164 tonnes of cooking gas (83/day) and 4,726,600 liters of industrial gas for the power plant (337,614/day) were allowed entry.

• Of note: Overall, 693 truckloads, including 126.5 truckloads for humanitarian agencies, were allowed into Gaza during this period. This is a decrease of 17% compared to 835.5 truckloads which were allowed in during the previous reporting period.

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1 The United Nations, through the OCHA oPt office, has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA since April 2006.

2 The AMA was reached between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to promote peaceful economic development and improve the humanitarian situation on the ground. It represents the commitments of both Governments to facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Full report: