On 17 October 2016, EU border assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah), concluded a year-long training activities with the General Administration for Border and Crossing (GABC). The activities were focused on further enhancing the capability of GABC staff in order to conduct effective and efficient controls at the Rafa Border Crossing Point between Gaza Strip and Egypt. During the Jericho-based ceremony, Head of EUBAM Rafah Mission, Mrs. Natalina Cea, underlined the fruitful results achieved in the past 12 months both on training activities and in drafting the GABC Business and Integrated Border Management Strategies. Mrs. Cea said she was confident that GABC would achieve their challenging objectives, which meet international standards.
The Head of GABC, Mr. Nazmi Muhanna, praised the efforts being exerted by EUBAM RAFAH to further improve the knowledge of the staff and thanked Mrs. Cea for her dedication and commitment to advance the cooperation between the two sides.
At the end of the ceremony, 120 GABC Staff were awarded certificates. EUBAM RAFAH plans to finance the refurnishing of GABC Traing Centre, which is expected to be functional by the spring of 2017.
EU BAM Rafah is mandated to provide a third party presence at the Rafah crossing point to contribute to building confidence between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including through building up the Palestinian capacity on all aspects of border management at Rafah. The Mission maintains readiness to redeploy to the Rafah crossing point once the political and security situation allows.
