Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Eightieth biweekly implementation report (OCHA)


Report No. 80

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(26 Nov – 09 Dec 08)

The United Nations is submitting the 80tth bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)1, covering the period 26 Nov – 09 Dec 08 (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 549 working days. It was last open on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was exceptionally and partially opened on seven days during the reporting period, allowing 647 Palestinians including many medical cases to cross into Gaza and 12 to cross out.
Karni crossing has remained closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza.  The conveyor belt/chute for cereals, animal feed was open on three days (26 Nov, 04 and 09 December), compared to one day in the previous reporting period. A total of 84 truckloads of cereals, animal feed, entered Gaza, via the one lane, compared to 20 in the previous reporting period. Neither gravel nor bulk cement were allowed entry during this period.
Erez crossing has remained closed for more than two years since March 2006 for workers, and 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 on 12 out of the 14 scheduled days. A daily average of 15 medical cases was allowed to cross. No traders were allowed out during the reporting period.
Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 625 reported during the previous reporting period to 624. Overall, the figure of 624 represents an increase of 248 obstacles (66.0%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

Truck convoys – Implementation now 34 months overdue (since mid-January 2006).
Bus convoys – Implementation now 35 months overdue (since mid-December 2005).

Ports:

Seaport – Awaiting GoI assurance of non-interference with the seaport operation.
Airport – Awaiting commencement of discussions since November 2005.

Non-AMA Crossings:

Sufa crossing was not open during the whole reporting period. It was last open on 12 Sept 08.
Kerem Shalom crossing was open on four days compared to two days during the previous reporting period. A total of 118,5 truckloads including 63 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in compared to 59 during the previous reporting period.
Nahal Oz crossing was partially open on 3 out of 12 scheduled days compared to 2 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol, 299,000 litres of diesel, being for UNRWA, 318 tonnes of cooking gas (106 tonnes/ open day) and 1,275,350 litres of industrial gas for the power plant (425,116 lit/open day) were allowed entry.
Of note: Overall, 202.5 truckloads, including 63 truckloads from humanitarian agencies, were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 79 truckloads allowed in during the previous reporting period.

Notes

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 negotiated by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 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 the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.


2019-03-12T17:00:34-04:00

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