Egypt

Egypt to open Rafah crossing in both directions this week

Egyptian authorities are scheduled to open the Rafah border crossing in both directions on Monday and Tuesday, the state television reported.

The crossing will be opened for people who are stuck on either side of the borders and for humanitarian cases. 

The border crossing connects the Gaza strip with Egypt and is currently the strip's main exit and entry point. 

Egyptian authorities had last opened the crossing in both directions for three days in late January. 

A weekly report by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the period late February and early March said, "an estimated 30,000 Palestinians are waiting to cross into Egypt, including patients and students. Of this number, 17,000 are registered at the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in Gaza as having priority to travel."

A study by OCHA in December described the situation in Gaza as being "further compounded by the restriction imposed since 2013 by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah Crossing."

The most the crossing was opened was in 2012, during which it was left open for 310 days allowing around 420,000 people to cross, the study said.    

In 2013, the number fell to 262 days, permitting the crossing of a little over 300,000 people. However, in 2014, the number drastically fell to 158 days with only 97, 690 being able to cross.

Last year was the second lowest in terms of number of days the crossing was opened, since the strip became subject to blockade in 2007. 

In his last visit to the strip earlier this month, United Nations Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry said in a statement, "I am worried that Gaza is more isolated than ever, with many restrictions still in place at Israeli crossings for both goods and people and with the Rafah crossing practically closed." 

The densely populated enclave is home to 1.8 million people and is currently recovering from destruction caused by 51 days of Israeli military operations, which have more than "96,000 homes were damaged or destroyed," according to an assessment in December, 2014 by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.  

This content is from :Aswat Masriya

 
 

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