Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - April 13, 2007 - Back to Resources Page

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13 April 2007

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The United Nations¹ is submitting the 36th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 21 March – 03 April 2007 inclusive.²

1. Overall Progress:

Rafah functioned at similar levels to the previous period (open 6 days or 28% of scheduled hours). Its operation continues to fall well below the near continuous levels envisaged under the AMA. Karni crossing also continues to fall below the AMA target. Sufa crossing was only open for one out of 10 scheduled working days due to Israeli security concerns.

2. Changes of note since Report No 35 (20 March):

• Rafah crossing was open on 6 days allowing a total of 4,527 people to cross into the Gaza Strip and 4,069 people out. It opened for 28% of scheduled operating hours.
• Karni crossing was open on 11 scheduled operating days³ although just 43% of scheduled operating hours. A total of 2,327 truckloads of goods arrived into the Gaza Strip and 442 truckloads of goods were exported. In addition, 1,898 truckloads of aggregates were imported representing about 45% of the total imports.⁴
• Sufa crossing was open for one day out of 10 scheduled working days for the import of aggregates.
• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 2 days.
• Erez crossing remains closed to all Palestinians except traders holding special permits and emergency humanitarian cases. On average 371 traders crossed Erez each day, up from 329 in the last period.
• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank remained similar to the last reporting period with a decrease from 549 last week to 548. Overall this represents an increase of 171 or 46% over the baseline figure of August 2005.

3. No Change since Report No 35 (20 March):
• There were no reported security incidents in the areas of the crossings during the period.

Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

Truck convoys no discussion; implementation now 14 months overdue.
Bus convoys no discussion; implementation now 15 months overdue.

Ports:

Seaport awaiting, since November 2005, GoI assurance to donors that it will not interfere with its operation.
Airport awaiting, since November 2005, commencement of discussions.

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¹ The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. Since then the United Nations through the oPt OCHA office has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.
² The report draws on all available data sources for reporting including the EU-BAM, UN agencies, PA ministries, PalTrade, COGAT and the World Bank.
³ The crossing was scheduled to close one additional day for the Jewish Passover holiday.4 Aggregates are construction materials that are primarily moved through Sufa crossing.

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Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - April 13, 2007 - Back to Resources Page