Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Forty-fifth bi-weekly implementation report (OCHA)

Report No. 45

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

(25 July – 7 August 2007)

The United Nations1 is submitting the 45th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 25 July – 7 August 2007.

1. Overall Progress:

During the reporting period, Israel has allowed 5,166 Palestinians stranded in Egypt for two months to return to Gaza through Nitzana Border Crossing on the Israeli-Egyptian border and then by bus to enter Gaza via Erez Crossing. An unknown number of Palestinians such as students and medical patients are still unable to enter Egypt from Gaza at this time. Erez crossing remained open for a limited number of Palestinian senior traders, a limited number of medical cases and a small number of Palestinians working for international organizations. A single-lane conveyor belt at Karni Crossing was open for two days in this reporting period for the import of grains and animal feed with the crossing remaining closed for all other imports and exports. As a result of the Karni closure, Sufa and Kerem Shalom crossings continue to function as the alternative entry points for basic supplies. Sufa crossing does not have the appropriate infrastructure to handle food supplies and concern over the way the food products are being processed is increasing.

Changes of note since Report No. 44 (24 July):

· Rafah crossing remained closed during this reporting period. It has been closed for more than 59 days, and was last open on 9 June.

· Karni crossing remains closed, and has been closed since 12 June. A single conveyor belt/chute for importing food grains and animal feed, was open on 2 days (30 July and 6 August) for an average of 3 hours each day (same as the previous reporting period) bringing into Gaza the equivalent of 129 truck loads of these products compared with 118 truck loads during the previous period.

· Sufa crossing was open on 10 days for the entry of commercial food and humanitarian aid compared with 12 days in the previous reporting period.

· Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 7 days during this period for the entry of commercial food supplies and humanitarian aid compared with 4 days during the previous reporting period. On 7 August, one of the Gaza Power Generating company’s turbines that required maintenance in Israel passed out of Gaza through Kerem Shalom following a special coordination with the IDF.

· Erez crossing has been closed since 12 June to all Palestinians, except for a limited number of senior Palestinian traders who were granted special permits to cross to the West Bank and Israel, and some medical cases. Erez remained open for the movement of international personnel.

· Obstacles to movement in the West Bank decreased compared to the previous reporting period (from 541 to 532) which is an increase of 156 obstacles, or 41.5%, over the baseline figure of August 2005.

2. No Change since Report No. 44 (24 July):

 Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:


Truck convoys
due in mid January 2006, no discussion; implementation now 18 months overdue.

Bus convoys due in mid December 2005, no discussion; implementation now 19 months overdue.

Ports:

Seaport awaiting, since November 2005, GoI assurance to donors that it will not interfere with its operation.

Airport awaiting, since November 2005, commencement of discussions.
____________
1 The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. Since then the United Nations through the oPt OCHA office has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.
2 The report draws on all available data sources for reporting including the EU-BAM, UN agencies, PA ministries, PalTrade, COGAT and the World Bank.
3 The crossing was scheduled to close one additional day for the Jewish Passover holiday.4 Aggregates are construction materials that are primarily moved through Sufa crossing.

/….

FULL REPORT:


2019-03-12T17:40:04-04:00

Share This Page, Choose Your Platform!

Go to Top