Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Eighty-fifth biweekly implementation report (OCHA)

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Report No. 85

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(4-17 Feb 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 85^th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 04 – 17 February 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 619 working days. It was last open for public use on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open on an exceptional basis for passengers on all days during the reporting period, allowing 448 Palestinians including many medical cases to cross out of Gaza, and 544 to cross in, comp ared to 2,199 departures and 1,445 arrivals in the previous reporting period. Rafah crossing was al so partially open on one day for the inflow of humanitarian supplies – 7 truckloads of medical and relief supplies were allowed in during the reporting period, a large decrease compared to 104 a llowed in during 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/animal feed was open on nine days (4,5,8,9,11,12,15,16, and 17 February), the same number of days as reported in the previous reporting period. A total of 342 truckloads of cereals/animal feed, were allowed to enter Gaza, via the conveyor belt , a large decrease compared to 701 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 two years since March 2006 for workers, and more than a year, since 12 June 2007, for all other Palest inians, 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 sche duled days. No traders were allowed out during the reporting period, and an average of 10 medical cases per day were allowed to cross out, an increase compared to 4 cases per day reported in the previous reporting period.

Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 628 reported during the previous reporting period to 626. Overall, the figure of 628 represents an increase of 250 obstacles (66.5%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

Truck convoys – Implementation now 37 months overdue (since mid-January 2006).

Bus convoys – Implementation now 38 months overdue (since mid-December 2005).

Seaport – Awaiting GoI assurance of non-interference with the seaport operation.

Airport – Awaiting commencement of discussions since November 2005.

Non-AMA Crossings:

Sufa crossing remained closed during the whole reporting period. It was last open on 12 Sept 08.

Kerem Shalom crossing was open on eleven days, the same as reported during the previous reporting period. A total of 1,152.5 truckloads of goods, including 627.5 for humanitarian aid agencies, were allowed in, compared to 1,071.5 reported during the previous reporting period. One truckload of carnations was allowed to be exported through Kerem Shalom Crossing on 12 February, being the first export out of the Gaza Strip since 18 January 08.

Nahal Oz crossing was partially open on 8 out of 12 scheduled days, compared to 10 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel was allowed entry. 188 tonnes of cooking gas (23.5 tonnes/day – 5% of the actual need) and 3,926,850 liters of industrial gas for the power plant (490,856 lit/day – 62% of the actual need) were allowed entry.

Of note: Overall, 1,501.5 truckloads of goods, including 634.5 truckloads from humanitarian agencies (including 7 through Rafah crossing), were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, a decrease compared to 1,877 truckloads allowed in during the previous reporting period.

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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 facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.