Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Seventy-third biweekly implementation report (OCHA)

Report No. 73

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(20 August – 02 September 2008)

The United Nations is submitting the 73^rd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 20 August – 02 September 2009 (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 451 working days Since it was last opened on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was opened on an exceptional basis on five days during the reporting period (23,25,26,30 and 31 August) For two days it was opened all day and on three days it was partially opened. Overall, 1,066 people were allowed to cross into Gaza and 3,441 people were permitted to cross out of Gaza.

• Karni crossing has been closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. The conveyor belt/chute located outside the compound was operational for the import of cereals and animal feed on six days (21,24,25,28 August, 01 and 02 September) including two days in which the bulk cement lane was also open. This is a decrease compared to the nine operational days in the previous reporting period. A total of 598 truckloads of cereals, animal feed and bulk cement entered Gaza, via the two lanes, which constitutes a sharp decrease in the number of truckloads which entered in the previous reporting period (979 truckloads).. No gravel was allowed entry during this reporting 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 12 out of the 14 scheduled days. A daily average of 12 traders and 18 medical cases were allowed to cross.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has increased from 610 during the previous reporting period to 630. Overall, the figure of 630 represents an increase of 254 obstacles (67.6%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

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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 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 both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take the necessary steps s to facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.