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OPT: Report No 37 - Implementation of the agreement on movement and access, 4 Apr - 17 Apr 2007

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The United Nations(1) is submitting the 37th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 4 - 17 April 2007.(2)

1. Overall Progress:

Rafah crossing was open for 50% of scheduled days allowing more travellers to cross than any other period since the start of the year; Karni was open all scheduled operating days and met on average 12% of the 400 truckloads of exported goods daily target under the AMA; and Sufa remained completely closed throughout the reporting period and has been open just 2 days in the last six weeks.

2. Changes of note since Report No. 36 (3 April):

- Rafah crossing was open on 7 days allowing a total of 6,420 people to cross into the Gaza Strip and 7,183 people out.

- Karni crossing was open on 10 out of the 11 scheduled operating days(3) enabling a total of 2,596 truckloads of goods into (excluding aggregates/construction materials) and 533 truckloads of goods out of the Gaza Strip. Karni was open for 53% of scheduled hours, a 10% increase compared to the previous period.

- Sufa crossing was completely closed this period (compared to one open day during the previous period).

- Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 5 days (3 more days than the previous period) for the import of humanitarian supplies.

- Erez crossing remains closed since 12 March 2006 for Palestinian workers and during the reporting period was closed over seven days due to an Israeli holiday (compared to one day of additional closure in place at Karni crossing).(4) An average of 193 traders crossed each day on the days when Erez was open, a decrease compared to the previous period (371).

- Obstacles to movement in the West Bank has decreased compare to the previous reporting (down from 547 to 539). Overall this represents an increase of 173 obstacles or 43% over the baseline figure of August 2005.

3. No Change since Report No. 36 (3 April):

- 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 15 months overdue.

Bus convoys - no discussion; implementation now 16 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.

Notes:

(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) In addition to being regularly closed on Saturdays, Karni was closed on 9 April for an Israeli holiday (not counted as a closure day, see technical notes) and closed on Friday 13 April for Israeli security reasons.

(4) The period when Erez was closed over the Israeli holiday is not counted as closure days (see technical notes).

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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