Norway provides NOK 30 million for upgrading of the Karni Terminal to improve the supply situation in Gaza

Yesterday Norway and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed an agreement on Norwegian assistance for the upgrading of the Karni Terminal. The aim is to increase the terminal’s capacity to handle imports and exports to and from Gaza. This will help to improve the supply situation in Gaza. Norway will provide NOK 30 million for this project over 18 months.

“Economic development is crucial to putting an end to the violent conflict in Gaza. Increased capacity at the Karni Terminal is necessary to ensure that people in Gaza have access to essential goods and to facilitate the export of Palestinian goods from Gaza,” said State Secretary Raymond Johansen. 

The project for the upgrading of the Karni Terminal is a result of close cooperation between the Palestinian and Israeli authorities and is being coordinated by US Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Dayton. The upgrading of the Karni Terminal is one element in the implementation of the Access and Movement Agreement negotiated between the parties by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in November 2005. The agreement is intended to improve the Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the West Bank and between Gaza and the West Bank. Norway is cooperating closely with the UN, the Palestinian Authority, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada and the US on implementing the project.