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

Report No. 90

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(15 – 28 April 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 90th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 15 – 28 April 09 (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 689 working days. It was last open for the public on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open on an exceptional basis for passengers on all days during the reporting period, allowing 2,434 Palestinians, including many medical cases to cross out and 743 to cross in, compared to 42 departures and 296 arrivals in the previous reporting period. 32 truckloads of humanitarian relief items including medical supplies, water and food were allowed entry to Gaza through Rafah Crossing, compared to 07 allowed in during the previous reporting period. The crossing was partially open on four days (18, 19, 20 and 21 April) for the entry of these humanitarian supplies.

• 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 (16, 20, 23 and 27 April), the same as reported in the previous reporting period. A total of 297 truckloads of cereals and animal feed entered Gaza via the conveyor belt, compared to 250 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 three years since 12 March 2006 for workers, and more than a year, since 12 June 2007, for all other Palestinians, except for a limited number of Palestinian senior 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. 12 traders were allowed out during the reporting period and an average of three medical cases per day were allowed to cross out.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has increase from 632 reported during the previous reporting period to 635. Overall, the figure of 635 represents an increase of 259 obstacles (68. 9%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

• Ports:

Non-AMA Crossings:

• Sufa crossing was not open during the whole reporting period. It was last open on 12 Sept 08. In mid March 09, Israel announced that Sufa crossing is no longer a crossing point between Gaza and Israel.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was partially open on 10 days, the same as during the previous reporting period. A total of 922 truckloads of goods including 269 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in compared to 898 during the previous reporting period. One truckload of carnations was allowed out (exported) on 27 April.

• Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 07 out of 10 scheduled days compared to 06 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel for private/commercial use was allowed entry during this reporting period. 2,065 tonnes of cooking gas and 3,926,570 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed in compared to 1,150 tonnes and 4,750,970 liters respectively in the previous reporting period.

• Of note: Overall, 1,253 truckloads, including 296 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 1,112 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 for reporting 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.

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