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

Report No. 93

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(27 May – 09 June 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 93rd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 27 May – 09 June 09 (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 731 working days. It was last open for the public on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open on an exceptional basis for passengers on 10 days during the reporting period, compared to 12 days during the previous reporting period, allowing 255 Palestinians, including many medical cases, to cross out and 495 to cross in, compared to 1,632 departures and 1,184 arrivals in the previous reporting period.

• 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 and animal feed was open on three days (01, 03 and 09 June), compared to five days during the previous reporting period. A total of 263 truckloads of cereals and animal feed, entered Gaza via the conveyor belt, compared to 374 in the previous reporting period. Neither gravel nor bulk cement were allowed entry during this period. Gravel and bulk cement were last allowed into Gaza on 26 and 29 Oct 08 respectively.

• Erez crossing has remained closed for more than three years since 12 March 2006 for workers, and nearly two years, since 12 June 2007, for all other Palestinians, except for a limited number of Palestinian senior traders, aid workers and medical cases who have been granted special permits. For these persons, Erez crossing was partially open on 12 days. No traders were allowed out during the reporting period, and an average of 14 medical cases per day were allowed to cross out.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has remained at 627 same as reported during the previous reporting period. Overall, the figure of 627 represents an increase of 251 obstacles (66.8%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

• Sufa crossing was not open during the whole reporting period. It was last open on 12 Sept 08. In mid March 09, Israel announced that Sufa crossing is no longer a crossing point between Gaza and Israel.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was partially open on 10 days, compared to 11 days during the previous reporting period. A total of 646 truckloads of goods, including 196 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in, compared to 791 during the previous reporting period.

• Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 09 out of 10 scheduled days, ompared to 07 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel for private/commercial use was allowed entry during this reporting period. 1,703 tonnes of cooking gas and 4,295,840 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed in, compared to 1,931 tonnes and 4,115,110 liters respectively in the previous reporting period.

• Of note: Overall, 909 truckloads, including 196 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 1,409 truckloads allowed in during the previous reporting period.

____________

¹ The United Nations, through the OCHA oPt office, has assumed reporting responsibilities for reporting 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.

For more information email: ochaopt@un.org | Address: P.O. Box 38712 Jerusalem

Phone: +972 (0)2 5829962 / 5825853 | Fax: +972 (0)2 5825841