Today, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EU BAM) performed its monitoring, mentoring, evaluating and capacity building duties at Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) like any other day, opening at 8:00 and closing at 17:00 hours.
The situation throughout the day was quiet at RCP, where 740 passengers crossed from Gaza into Egypt and 597 from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, adding to a total of 1.337 (the average number since EU BAM started operations on 26th November 2005 has been around 1.350/day).
Even though the situation was rather calm at RCP, EU BAM welcomed the deployment of extra Police and Security personnel by the Palestinian Authority, that so far has demonstrated a high professional commitment in taking care of the security and safety of EU BAM's monitors.
Contrary to some rumours that were spread yesterday about EU BAM evacuating RCP, the monitors finished operations at 15:45, only one hour and fifteen minutes before the regular closing time due to the tense situation in the Gaza Strip.
After the decision to close a short while earlier than scheduled was made, all buses and passengers that were present at RCP were smoothly processed before the Terminal was closed without any incidents whatsoever.
Moreover, the export of goods was made possible and some cargo trucks were also processed, thanks to the coordinating efforts and support of the Egyptian authorities.
JULIO DE LA GUARDIA RIVERA
Press & Public Information Officer
Mobile Telephone: 054 4926836
