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

Report No. 83

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(07- 20 Jan 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 83^rd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 07 – 20 Jan 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 591 working days. It was last open for public use on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open for passengers, on an exceptional basis, on all days during the reporting period, allowing 1,297 Palestinians including many medical cases of injuries caused during the Israeli military ground incursion into Gaza, to cross out and 4,965 people to cross in. It was also partially open on all days for the inflow of humanitarian supplies – 164 truckloads of medical and relief supplies entered during the reporting period, a large increase compared to 17 allowed 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 and animal feed was open on four days (12,18, 19 and 20 January), compared to one day in the previous reporting period. A total of 217 truckloads of cereals/animal feed entered Gaza, via the conveyor belt, compared to 43 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 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. No traders were allowed out during the reporting period, and only 4 medical cases were allowed to cross out compared to an average of 3 cases per day reported during the previous reporting period.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has increased from 626 reported during the previous reporting period to 629. Overall, the figure of 629 represents an increase of 253 obstacles (67.3%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

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

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on thirteen days compared to eight days during the previous reporting period. A total of 1,100.5 truckloads of goods including 560 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in compared to 544 reported during the previous reporting period.

• Nahal Oz crossing was partially open on three out of 12 scheduled days compared to two days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel for public use was allowed entry. 242 tonnes of cooking gas (80.5 tonnes/day – 7% of the actual need) and 1,490,000 liters of industrial gas for the power plant (496,660 lit/day – 24% of the actual need) were allowed entry, including 550,000 liters of industrial gas which was exceptionally transferred through Kerem Shalom Crossing.

• Of note: Overall, 1,481.5 truckloads of goods, including 724 truckloads from humanitarian agencies (including 164 through Rafah crossing), were allowed to enter Gaza during this period, compared to 604 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 the Gaza Strip.