UN Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - October 13, 2009 - Back to Resources Page

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Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

13 October 2009

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The United Nations is submitting the 102nd bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA)¹, covering the period 30 Sep - 13 Oct 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 857 working days. It was last open for general public use 09 June 2007. However, the crossing was partially open on an exceptional basis for passengers on 12 days during the reporting period, compared to 14 days in the previous reporting period, allowing 101 authorized Palestinians, including many medical cases, to cross out, and 653 to cross in, compared to 2,782 departures, and 1,371 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 five days (30 Sept, 01, 06, 07 and 12 Oct), compared to two days during the previous reporting period. A total of 450 truckloads of cereals and animal feed entered Gaza via the conveyor belt, compared to 131 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 19 medical cases per day were allowed to cross out, compared to an average of 10 reported during the previous reporting period.

• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased from 592 reported during the previous reporting to 586. Overall, this figure of 586 represents an increase of 210 obstacles (55.9%) 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 10 days compared to 06 days during the previous reporting period. A total of 797.5 truckloads of goods including 123.5 for humanitarian aid agencies were allowed in, compared to 434.5 during the previous reporting period. A total of 30,000 litres of petrol and 301,000 litres of diesel were allowed entry for UNRWA, in addition, to 135,000 litres of industrial gas for the power plant, entering via the newly installed fuel pipelines at Kerem Shalom.

• Nahal Oz fuel pipelines were partially open on 03 out of the 10 scheduled days, the same as in the previous reporting period. 649 tonnes of cooking gas and 3,304,840 liters of industrial gas for the power plant were allowed to enter, compared to 747 tonnes and 3,517,530 litres respectively, during the previous reporting period

• Of note: Overall, 1,247.5 truckloads, including 83.5 truckloads from humanitarian agencies were allowed entry to Gaza during this period, compared to 574.5 truckloads allowed in during the previous reporting period. A total of 649 tonnes of cooking gas and 3,439,840 litres of industrial fuel for the power plant were allowed to enter (Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom), compared to 747 tonnes and 3,517,530 litres respectively, 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 - October 13, 2009 - Back to Resources Page