UN Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - May 26, 2009 - Back to Resources Page


Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
26 May 2009


Report No. 92
Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access
and Update on Gaza Crossings
(13 - 26 May 2009)

The United Nations is submitting the 92nd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)1, covering the period 13 - 26 May 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 717 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 12 days during the reporting period, compared to all days during the previous reporting period, allowing 1,632 Palestinians, including many medical cases, to cross out, and 1,184 to cross in, compared to 63 departures and 400 arrivals in the previous reporting period. Rafah Crossing was partially open on three days for the import of 64 truckloads of humanitarian relief items. No truckloads entered during the previous reporting period.

Karni crossing has remains closed since 12 June 2007 for the movement of goods in and out of Gaza. The conveyor belt/chute for cereals and animal feed was open on five days (13,18,21,24 and 26 May), the same as during the previous reporting period. A total of 374 truckloads of cereals and animal feed, entered Gaza, via the conveyor belt, compared to 300 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 nearly two years, 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 13 medical cases per day were allowed to cross out.

Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 631 reported during the previous reporting period to 627. Overall, the figure of 627 represents an increase of 251 obstacles (66.8%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

    Truck convoys Implementation now 40 months overdue (since mid-January 2006).
    Bus convoys Implementation now 41 months overdue (since mid-December 2005).

Ports:

    Seaport Awaiting GoI assurance of non-interference with the seaport operation.
    Airport Awaiting commencement of discussions since November 2005.

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 that Sufa crossing is no longer a crossing point between Gaza and Israel.

Kerem Shalom crossing was partially open on 11 days, the same as during the previous reporting period. A total of 791 truckloads of goods, including 462 for humanitarian aid agencies, were allowed in, compared to 995 during the previous reporting period.

Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 07 out of 10 scheduled days, compared to 08 days during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel for private/commercial use was allowed entry during this reporting period. 1,931 tonnes of cooking gas and 3,800,030 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed in, compared to 2,098 tonnes and 4,115,110 liters respectively in the previous reporting period.

Of note: Overall, 1,409 truckloads, including 526 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 1,295 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




UN Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - May 26, 2009 - Back to Resources Page


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