UN Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - September 29, 2009 - Back to Resources Page

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Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

29 September 2009

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The United Nations is submitting the 101st bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 16 - 29 Sep 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 843 working days. It was last open for public use on 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open on an exceptional basis for passengers on all days during the reporting period, the same as in the previous reporting period, allowing 2,782 authorized Palestinians, including many medical cases, to cross out, and 1,371 to cross in, compared to 1,505 departures and 2,485 arrivals in the previous reporting period.

• Karni crossing has remained 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 two days (22 and 24 September), compared to four days during the previous reporting period. A total of 131 truckloads of cereals and animal feed entered Gaza, via the conveyor belt, compared to 377 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 more than 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 days. An average of one trader was allowed out per day during the reporting period, and an average of 10 medical cases per day were allowed to cross out, compared to an average of 19 during the previous reporting period.
• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 618 reported during the previous reporting to 592. Overall, the figure of 592 represents an increase of 216 obstacles (57.4%) over the baseline figure (376) of August 2005.

• Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

Truck convoys Implementation now 44 months overdue (since mid-January 2006).
Bus convoys Implementation now 45 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 06 days compared to 10 days during the previous reporting period. A total of 434.5 truckloads of goods including 83.5 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in, compared to 795.5 reported during the previous reporting period. On 16 September, Kerem Shalom’s newly installed fuel pipelines were tested and 90,000 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed into Gaza through them.

• Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 03 out of 10 scheduled days, compared to 06 days d during the previous reporting period. No petrol or diesel was allowed entry. A total of 747 tonnes of cooking gas and 3,517,530 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed to enter, compared to 1,441 tonnes and 6,572,731 liters respectively reported in the previous reporting period.

• Of note: Overall, 574.5 truckloads, including 83.5 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 1,172.5 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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UN Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - September 29, 2009 - Back to Resources Page