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

Report No. 75

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(17 – 30 September 08)

The United Nations is submitting the 75^th  bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 17 – 30 September 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 479 working days since it was last opened on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was opened on six days on an exceptional basis during the reporting period, to allow 2,667 pilgrims, students and medical cases to cross out of Gaza and 766 others to cross in.

• Karni crossing has been generally 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 6 days (18,21,23,24,25 and 28 September) including one day where the bulk cement lane was also opened, compared to 8 days in the previous reporting period. A total of 543 truckloads of cereals, animal feed, gravel and bulk cement entered Gaza, via the two lanes, compared to 1,396 in the previous 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 on 12 out of the 14 scheduled days. A daily average of 12 traders and 11 medical cases were allowed to cross.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has increased from 621 during the previous reporting period to 625. Overall, the figure of 621 represents an increase of 249 obstacles (66.2%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

• Sufa crossing did not open during the reporting period. It was open on 8 days during the previous reporting period. It was last opened on 12 September 08.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 11 days compared to one day during the previous reporting period. A total of 767.5 truckloads including 43 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in.

• Nahal Oz crossing was open on 9 out of 12 scheduled days compared to 8 days during the previous reporting period. 403,030 litres of petrol (33,585 lit/day), 4,388,280 litres of diesel (365,690 lit/day), 1,417.5 tonnes of cooking gas (118 tonnes/day) and 6,841,720 litres of industrial gas for the power plant (570,143/day) were allowed entry.

• Of note: Of note: Overall, 1,310.5 truckloads, including 43 truckloads for humanitarian agencies, were allowed into Gaza during this period, compared to 2,039.5 truckloads 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 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 facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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