Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Seventy-sixth biweekly implementation report (OCHA)

Report No. 76

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

and Update on Gaza Crossings

(01 – 14 October 08)

The United Nations is submitting the 76^th  bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 01 – 14 Oct 08 (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 493 working days. It was last open on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was exceptionally opened on five days during the reporting period, allowing 808 of pilgrims, and medical cases to cross into Gaza and 22 others to cross out.

• Karni crossing has been closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. The conveyor belt/chute for cereals, animal feed and gravel was open on 3 days (05,06 and 07 October) including 2 days in which the bulk cement lane was also open, compared to 6 days in the previous reporting period. A total of 389 truckloads of cereals, animal feed, gravel and bulk cement entered Gaza, via the two lanes, compared to 543 in the previous reporting period.

• 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. A daily average of 10 traders and 9 medical cases were allowed to cross.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank remains at 625 – the same number from the prior reporting period. Overall, the figure of 625 represents an increase of 249 obstacles (66.2%) 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 opened during the whole reporting period. It was last opened on 12 Sept 08.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 8 days compared to 11 days during the previous reporting period. A total of 522 truckloads including 20 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in.

• Nahal Oz crossing was open on 5 out of 9 scheduled days compared to 9 days during the previous reporting period. 234,010 liters of petrol (19,500 lit/day), 1,630,800 liters of diesel (135,900 lit/day), 1,168 tonnes of cooking gas (97 tonnes/day) and 3,848,390 liters of industrial gas for the power plant (320,699/day) were allowed entry.

• Of note: Overall, 911 truckloads, including 20 truckloads from humanitarian agencies, were allowed into Gaza during this period, compared to 1,310.5 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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