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

Report No. 74

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(03 –  16 September 2008)

The United Nations is submitting the 73^rd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 03 – 16  September 2009 (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 465 working days since it last opened on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was opened on an exceptional basis on one day during the reporting period, allowing 15 medical cases to cross into Gaza and nine others to cross out of the Gaza Strip.

• Karni crossing has been 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 eight days (03,04,07,08,09,10,11 and 14 September) including six days in which the bulk cement lane was also open. This compares to six days in which the belt/chute was operational in the previous reporting period. A total of 1,396 truckloads of cereals, animal feed, gravel and bulk cement entered Gaza, via the two lanes, compared to 598 in the previous reporting period, which constitutes a significant increase in imports through this crossing.

• 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 10 traders and 14 medical cases were allowed to cross.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 630 during the previous reporting period to 621. Overall, the figure of 621 represents an increase of 245 obstacles (65.2%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

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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 take the necessary steps s to facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.