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

Report No. 50

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

(3 Oct – 16 Oct 2007)

The United Nations is submitting the 50th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 3 – 16 October 2007.

Overall Progress:

Rafah and Karni crossings have now been closed for four months. Sufa and Kerem Shalom continue to function as the principal alternative entry points for commercial and humanitarian supplies, though Sufa still lacks the appropriate infrastructure to handle food and medical supplies. A single-lane conveyor belt at Karni was open for the import of wheat grain and animal feed for four days compared to five days in the previous reporting period. The quantity of goods imported into Gaza continues to decline. A total of 617 truckloads, including 48 for humanitarian agencies, were allowed entry into Gaza during this reporting period, compared to 633 truckloads in the previous period.

As of 12 October, new working hours were institutionalized at the Erez terminal. The crossing is now closed from 15:00 on Fridays to 07:00 on Sundays. During the reporting period, Erez crossing was open on all 13 scheduled days for people with special coordination arrangements with the Israeli District Civil Liaison, including a limited number of patients, aid workers and traders. No other Palestinians are allowed to cross.

Changes of note since Report No. 49 (2 October):

· Rafah crossing has now been closed for the movement of people for 129 days (last open on 9 June).

· Karni crossing has been closed since 12 June for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. A single conveyor belt/chute for wheat grain and animal feed was open on four days (8, 9, 15 and 16 October) for a total of 32 hours, compared to 35 hours in the previous period. A total of 239 truckloads of grains and animal feed entered Gaza, compared to 327 in the previous reporting period.

· Sufa crossing was open on 6 out of the 9 scheduled operating days for the entry of commercial and humanitarian supplies (same as previous reporting period). An equivalent of 183 truckloads crossed into Gaza through Sufa compared to 124 truckloads during the previous reporting period. Sufa crossing remains closed for the import of construction materials.

· Kerem Shalom crossing was open on five days during this period for the entry of commercial and humanitarian goods (same as previous reporting period). An equivalent of 195 truckloads crossed into Gaza through Kerem Shalom, compared to 182 truckloads during the previous reporting period.

· Erez crossing has been closed since 12 June to all Palestinians, except for a limited number of senior Palestinian traders and Palestinian staff from international organizations who were granted special permits to cross to the West Bank and Israel, and some medical cases. As of 12 October, the Erez terminal is now closed from 15:00 on Fridays to 07:00 on Sundays.

· Obstacles to movement in the West Bank remained the same since the previous reporting period. 563 obstacles currently exist, an increase of 187 obstacles, or 33%, over the baseline figure of August 2005.

No Change since Report No. 49 (2 October):

Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

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¹ The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. Since then, the United Nations, through the OCHA oPt office, has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.

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

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

www.ochaopt.org

FULL REPORT: