Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Forty-ninth bi-weekly implementation report (OCHA)

Report No. 49

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

(19 Sep – 2 Oct 2007)

The United Nations1 is submitting the 49^thbi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 19 September – 2 October 2007.

Overall Progress:

The closure of the Rafah and Karni crossings for the movement of goods and people is ongoing. A single-lane conveyor belt at Karni was open for five days for the entry of grains and animal feed compared to three days in the previous reporting period. Sufa and Kerem Shalom continue to function as the principal alternative entry points for commercial and humanitarian supplies, though Sufa still lacks the appropriate infrastructure to handle food and medical supplies. Concerns are growing with regards to the impact of the approaching rainy season on Sufa as it is a wide-open dirt field. The quantity of goods entering into Gaza continued to decline compared to previous reporting periods. A total of 633 truckloads, including 34 for humanitarian agencies, were allowed entry into Gaza this period, compared to 793 truckloads in the previous reporting period. This represents a 20% decrease from the previous reporting period and a 61% decrease from the same period last year.

Erez crossing was open on 10 days out of 14 scheduled days for people with special coordination arrangements with the Israeli District Civil Liaison, including a limited number of medical cases. While Erez has been closed since early 2006 for Palestinian workers, it was also closed for Palestinian traders during this reporting period.

Changes of note since Report No. 48 (18 September):

• Rafah crossing has now been closed for the movement of people for 115 days (last open on 9 June).

• Karni crossing has been closed since 12 June for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. A single conveyor belt/chute for grains and animal feed was open on five days (19, 24, 25 September and 1 and 2 October) for a total of 35 hours, compared to 20 hours in the previous period. A total of 327 truckloads of grains and animal feed entered Gaza, compared to 210 in the previous reporting period.

• Sufa crossing was open on four out of the ten scheduled operating days for the entry of commercial and humanitarian supplies, compared to eight days in the last period. An equivalent of 124 truckloads crossed into Gaza through Sufa compared to 425 truckloads during the previous reporting period. Sufa crossing remains closed for the import of construction materials.

• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on five days during this period for the entry of commercial and humanitarian goods (same as previous reporting period). An equivalent of 182 truckloads crossed into Gaza through Kerem Shalom, compared to 158 truckloads during the previous reporting period.

• Erez crossing has been closed since 12 June to all Palestinians, except for a limited number of senior Palestinian traders, Palestinian staff from international organizations and some medical cases who are granted special permits to cross to the West Bank and Israel. A significant reduction has been reported in the number of medical cases permitted to leave Gaza, while Palestinian traders have not been allowed out of Gaza since 19 September.

• The total number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank remains unchanged since the previous reporting period (563 checkpoints).

No Change since Report No. 48 (18 September):

Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

Truck convoys Implementation now 20 months overdue (since mid-January 2006).

Bus convoys Implementation now 21 months overdue (since mid-December 2005).

Ports:

Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Forty-ninth bi-weekly implementation report (OCHA)

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