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

Report No. 70

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(09 – 22 July 2008)

The United Nations is submitting the 87^th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 09 – 22 July 2008 (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 409 working days since 10 June 2007. However, 27 Palestinians from Gaza were exceptionally allowed to cross out when the crossing was temporarily opened for a few hours on 15 July. Nobody was allowed to cross in during the entire reporting period.

• Karni crossing is closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. The single-lane conveyor belt/chute located outside the compound, was operational for the import of cereals and animal feed on nine days (10, 13, 14, 15,16,17,20, 21 and 22 July). The conveyor belt/chute was operational on six days for gravel imports (five days in the previous reporting period). Overall, 1,548 truckloads of cereals, animal feed and gravel (1,361 truckloads) entered Gaza, via the conveyor belt, compared to 338 in the previous reporting period.

• Erez crossing has remained closed for more than two years now, being 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 12 out of the 14 scheduled days.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has increased from 609 reported during the previous reporting period to 610. Overall, the figure of 610 represents an increase of 234 obstacles (62.2%) 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 (GOI) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to promote peaceful economic development and improve the humanitarian situation on the ground. It represents the commitments of both the GOI and the PA to facilitate access and movement into/out and throughout the West Bank and Gaza.