Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – 44th bi-weekly implementation report (OCHA)

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Report No. 44

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

(11 – 24 July 2007)

The United Nations¹ is submitting the 44th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 11 – 24 July 2007. ²

1. Overall Progress:

There have been no major changes since the previous reporting period. The two main crossings, Rafah and Karni, have been effectively closed since 10 June. At Karni Crossing a single-lane conveyor belt was open for two days to enable the import of grain. Karni Crossing remains closed for the import of all other items and all exports. Erez crossing has been closed to all Palestinian workers since 12 March 2006. A limited number of Palestinian senior traders were able to cross to the West Bank and Israel. Humanitarian workers and a limited number of medical cases continue to cross at Erez after special coordination with the IDF. Sufa and Kerem Shalom crossings were open for the entry of humanitarian and commercial food commodities. There are serious concerns over the capacity of these two crossings to safely transfer perishable food.

Changes of note since Report No. 43 (10 July):

• Rafah crossing remained closed during this reporting period. It has been closed for more than 45 days, and was last open on 9 June. On one day during the previous reporting period 20 Palestinians entered the Gaza Strip in a coordination initiated by Egypt without the presence of EUBAM.

• Karni crossing remains closed during the reporting period and has been closed since 12 June. A single conveyor belt/chute for importing food grains, animal feed, soya, and corn was open on 2 days (11 and 23 July) for an average of 3 hours each day (compared with 6 days during the previous reporting period) bringing into Gaza the equivalent of 118 truck loads of these products compared with 185 truck loads during the previous period. Karni crossing remained closed for the import of all other items and all exports.

• Sufa crossing was open on 12 days for the entry of commercial food and humanitarian aid.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 4 days during this period for the entry of commercial food and humanitarian aid. During the previous reporting period it was open on 14 days for the same purpose. The closures during this period were due to security concerns following shelling of the crossing and for construction work on both sides of the crossing

• Erez crossing has been closed since 12th 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. The Israeli DCL reports a total of 46 senior Palestinian traders crossed between 1 – 14 July. Erez remained open for the movement of international personnel..

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank increased compared to the previous reporting period (from 539 to 541) which is an increase of 165 obstacles, or 43.5%, over the baseline figure of August 2005.

2. No Change since Report No. 43 (10 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.

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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 On 12 June, Erez and Karni Crossing were announced closed for Israeli security concerns in relation to the internal Palestinian armed factional clashes).

FULL REPORT: