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

Report No. 89

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(01 – 14 April 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 89th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 01 – 14 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 almost two years (675 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 13 days during the reporting period, allowing 42 Palestinians including many medical cases to cross out and 296 to cross in, compared to 494 departures and 910 arrivals reported in the previous reporting period. Seven truckloads of humanitarian relief items including medical supplies, water and food were allowed entry into Gaza through Rafah Crossing, compared to 42 reported to be allowed in during the previous reporting period. The crossing was partially open on one day (06 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, animal feed was open on four days (01, 06, 07 and 13 April), compared to six days in the previous reporting period. A total of 250 truckloads of cereals, animal feed, entered Gaza via the conveyor belt, compared to 305 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. No traders were allowed out during the reporting period and an average of five medical cases per day were allowed through.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has remained the same at 632 compared to the previous reporting period. Overall, the figure of 632 represents an increase of 256 obstacles (68,1%) 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 the closure of Sufa crossing as a crossing point between Gaza and Israel.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 10 days compared to 12 days reported during the previous reporting period. A total of 898 truckloads of goods including 306 for humanitarian aid agencies were

• allowed in compared to 1,079 reported during the previous reporting period. Of note, three truckloads of carnations were exported on 02, 07 and 13 April.

• The Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 06 out of 10 scheduled days, compared to 10 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel for private/commercial use was allowed entry during this reporting period. 1,150 tonnes of cooking gas and 4,750,970 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed in, compared to 2,483 tonnes and 4,292,650 liters respectively in the previous reporting period.

• Of note: Overall, 1,112 truckloads, including 313 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 1,426 truckloads allowed in during the previous reporting period.

_____________

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.

For more information email: ochaopt@un.org | Address: P.O. Box 38712 Jerusalem

Phone: +972 (0)2 5829962 / 5825853 | Fax: +972 (0)2 5825841

www.ochaopt.org