{"id":203372,"date":"2005-03-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=203372"},"modified":"2019-03-12T18:33:41","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:33:41","slug":"auto-insert-203372","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-203372\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaza Strip: Access Report (31 March 2005) – OCHA report"},"content":{"rendered":"
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OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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occupied Palestinian territory<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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The Gaza Strip: Access Report<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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March 2005<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Overview<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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One month after the election of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as President of the Palestinian Authority in January 2005, Palestinian and Israeli leaders met in Sharm el-Sheikh and issued a call for an end to the four year's of conflict. Among the confidence building measures announced was an easing of the internal and external movement restrictions faced by the 1.4 million people living in the Gaza Strip. Over the course of the month of March, indicators show a steady improvement in movement in and out of the Gaza Strip, although problems still remain with the internal Gaza Strip enclaves — Al Mawasi, Siafa and Al Ma'ani. This report discusses movement and access for March at the main Gaza Strip crossing points, internally within the Gaza Strip and for the fishing industry. <\/p><\/div>\n

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1. Gaza Strip Crossing Points:<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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A. Erez crossing and industrial estate<\/strong> <\/p><\/div>\n

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Worker movement<\/strong> <\/p><\/div>\n

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There has been a steady and progressive rise <\/strong>in the number of workers and merchants entering Israel and Erez industrial zone over the course of the month. During the first half of March<\/strong>, the number of workers <\/strong>entering Israel rarely exceeded 1100 daily<\/strong>. However, by the end of March<\/strong> the figure had risen to over 3,700<\/strong>, although movement into Israel was closed between 23 and 27 March to coincide with the Jewish Purim holiday. <\/p><\/div>\n

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The number of workers entering the industrial zone has also increased but at a slower rate with over 600 crossing daily<\/strong> at the end of March compared to around 550 during the first half of the month<\/strong>. The number of merchants entering Israel has also steadily increased with 240 crossing into Israel on 31 March compared to 102 on 1 March. <\/p><\/div>\n

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Key Dates<\/strong> <\/p>\n