gaza crossings’ operations status: … crossings’ operations status: monthly update - may 2017...
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Creation date: 10/06/2017 Feedback: [email protected] www.ochaopt.org http://data.ochaopt.org/gazacrossing.aspx
Information on the status of border crossings and numbers of truckloads is based on data provided by the Gaza Ministry of National Economy, UNRWA, UNSCO and Paltrade (Palestine Trade Center).
MOVEMENT AND ACCESS OF PEOPLE*
RAFAH CROSSING
GAZA CROSSINGS’ OPERATIONS STATUS: MONTHLY UPDATE - MAY 2017
EXIT OF GOODS
BACKGROUND
¹¹º»
¹
¹¹º»
EGYPT
Mediter
ranean
Sea
Rafah
Jabalya
Gaza City
Ash Shuja’iyeh
Khuza’a
Khan Yunis
Beit Hanoun
Beit Lahiya
Deir al B alah
ISRAEL
GAZA
Erez
Rafah
Kerem Shalom
Armistice Declaration LineInternational Boundary
Crossing Point
Closed Crossing Point
5 Km
21
14
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
300
389
Sufa
KarniNahal Oz
* The figures reflect number of times people crossed, but not the actual number of people crossing.
MOVEMENT OF GOODS FROM AND INTO GAZA
EREZ CROSSING• Exceptionally opened for four days for the entry of people into Gaza, while exit to Egypt was not
allowed during May.• 3,068 people entered Gaza, a 28% decrease compared to the monthly average in the first quarter
of 2017 and a 78% decline compared to 2014, prior to the closure of the crossing on 24 October 2014.
• So far in 2017 the crossing has been opened on an average of 3 days per month, nearly the same as in 2016 and 2015.
• At least 20,000 Palestinians are pre-registered and waiting to cross into Egypt, according to the local authorities in Gaza.
• Prior to the closure of the crossing in 2014, a monthly average of 4,000 people crossed Rafah for health-related reasons (WHO).
• Kerem Shalom crossing is currently the only regular commercial route between Gaza and the external world.
• Exit of goods took place on 17 days.• The volume of truckloads that exited was 42% above the 2016 monthly average, but 24% and
74% below the monthly averages in the first quarter of 2017, and in the first half of 2007, before the imposition of the blockade, respectively.
• Goods exited to the following destinations:- 203 truckloads of agricultural products, five of non-edible consumables, three of clothing and
three of furniture, to the West Bank;- 31 truckloads of agricultural products and scrap aluminum to Israel; and- Eight truckloads of agricultural products to international markets.
Truckloads exiting Gaza
RAFAH: Crossings in both directionsEREZ: Crossings into Israel
• Opened on 25 days (Closed on two days for Israeli holidays and on four Saturdays).• The reduced volume of crossings continued during May, marking a 25% and 53% decline
compared to the monthly averages in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.• 71% of the applications for exit permits by UN national staff in May received no response by the
scheduled date of travel, compared to an average of 42% in the first quarter of 2017, and 3% of the applications were rejected.
• The crossing is accessible only to Israeli-issued permit holders, primarily medical and other humanitarian cases, merchants, internationals and aid workers.
• Erez Crossing is open from Sunday to Thursday for all permit holders, and on Fridays for exceptional humanitarian cases and internationals.
25,813
15,712
369 1,7595,640
13,899
21,178
34,992
25,187
8,141
2,393 3,5215,719
2,900
2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb
Monthly Average 2017 Monthly Total
Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have under-mined the living conditions of 1.9 million Palestinians in that area. Many of the current restrictions, originally imposed by Israel in the early 1990s, were intensified after June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of Gaza and the imposition of a blockade. These restrictions continue to reduce access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupt family life, and undermine people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future. The situation has been compounded by the restrictions imposed since June 2013 by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah Crossing, which had become the main crossing point used by Palestinian passengers in the Gaza Strip, given the above restrictions on the Israeli-controlled crossings.
1st ½ 2nd ½2007
Mar
4,191
43,440
31,424
13,45412,611
1,857 2,175 2,482 3,337 4,376 4,919 5,756 7,121
15,02713,187
9,687 8,239
2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan20052004 Feb
Monthly Average 2017 Monthly Total
Mar
ch 2
006
- Isr
ael s
tops
allo
win
g P
ales
tinia
n w
orke
rs in
to Is
rael
June
200
7 - G
aza
bloc
kade
1st ½ 2nd ½2007
7,052
Mar Apr
5,311
May
6,238
777
417
961
17 3 2 18 23 21 15 19
113178
281341 372
270253
2006 1st ½ 2nd ½2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb2005
2017 Monthly Total Monthly Average
Mar Apr May
Apr0
May
3,068Cr
ossi
ng o
pene
d in
one
dire
ctio
n
Creation date: 10/06/2017 Feedback: [email protected] www.ochaopt.org http://data.ochaopt.org/gazacrossing.aspx
Information on the status of border crossings and numbers of truckloads is based on data provided by the Gaza Ministry of National Economy, UNRWA, UNSCO and Paltrade (Palestine Trade Center).
FUEL IMPORTS INTO GAZA
FUEL IMPORTS
Kerem Shalom remained the only crossing available for the import of fuel, allowing the entry of:
• 19.7 million litres of petrol and diesel; and
• 5,173 tons of cooking gas, which represents around 69% of the estimated needs of around 7,500 tons, according to the Gas Station Owners’ Association.
• No industrial fuel for the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) entered Gaza, due to the lack of funds. The GPP, which shut down on 17 April 2017, remained closed during the month, resulting in electricity blackouts of 20-22 hours a day.
GAZA CROSSINGS’ OPERATIONS STATUS: MONTHLY UPDATE - MAY 2017
ENTRY OF GOODS
* Closed on four Fridays, four Saturdays and four days for Israeli holidays.
UNDP
GRM** projects
2,164
* Primarily includes cement and steel bars; aggregates were removed from the “dual use” list in 2015. ** The GRM is a temporary agreement between the Government of Palestine and the Government of Israel, brokered by the United Nations in September 2014, to allow the entry of items defined by Israel as having a “dual” civilian/military use. These include building materials for repairs and reconstruction of private housing and infrastructure damaged or destroyed during hostilities, as well as new projects not related to hostilities.
26
UNRWA
62
Entry of restricted basic construction materials in Mayper sector (in truckloads)*
Goods imported in May 2017(in truckloads)
• Kerem Shalom Crossing operated on 19 days*.• Rafah crossing exceptionally opened on four days, allowing 381 truckloads of goods
to enter Gaza, the largest volume through this crossing since June 2015; nearly 70% of truckloads this month were basic construction materials.
• The volume of goods that entered this month was above the monthly averages recorded during the first quarter of 2017 and in 2016 (9% and 11% respectively), and the same as the monthly average in the first half of 2007 (before the blockade).
• 5% of the imported truckloads were designated for humanitarian aid agencies.• 6,902 truckloads carried construction materials, constituting the largest category of
imports (58%).• 36% of truckloads with construction materials carried items defined by Israel as ‘dual
use’ items, approved via the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM).• Karni, Sufa and Nahal Oz crossings with Israel remained closed.
** Figures exclude truckloads carrying fuel
Truckloads entering Gaza**
5 16
9,290
6,285
11,176
2,557 2,2362,593
3,3054,107
4,815
5,652
4,307
7,890
10,038
11,514
7,817
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan2005 2006 Feb
11,278
Mar Apr
9,654
May
10,908
Monthly Average 2017 Monthly Total
1st ½ 2nd ½2007
2,294 2,0733,090 3,275 3,427
3,9413,089
5,700
9,100
12,255
8,457
193643 350
9621,504 1,712
1,2182,198
1,024231 287
11,994
295 415
10,050
528
11,151(in truckloads)
Humanitarian vs. commercial imports
Monthly Average 2017 Monthly Total
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb
CommercialHumanitarian
Mar Apr May
4,383
2,287
2,519
494
452
385
118
91
71
71
21
16
Restricted Construction Materials
Human Food Products
Other Construction Materials
Industrial/Electrical Appliances
Animal Feed
Non-Edible Consumables
Hygiene/Cleaning Supplies
Agricultural Raw Materials
Packaging Applications
Education/Stationery
Medical Supplies
Livestock
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb2017 Monthly AverageMonthly Average
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fuel for power plant(in million litres)
Gas(in million kilograms)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb
Monthly Average 2017 Monthly Average
Petrol (in million litres)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb
2017 Monthly AverageMonthly Average
Diesel(in million litres)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Feb2017 Monthly AverageMonthly Average
Mar
Mar
Mar
Mar Apr
AprApr
Apr
267
Private sector through Rafah crossing
May
May May
May