Relief workers continue their grim mission in Jenin camp

AMMAN: As they continue to scour the area for decomposing bodies and tend to the sick, international relief workers in Jenin are slowly beginning to uncover the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis that swelled in the besieged refugee camp for the past 10 days.

For the second day, and despite the potential dangers of unexploded ordnance buried in the rubble, relief workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC) were allowed access into Jenin camp on Tuesday to continue their work.

From Hebron, Muin Kassis, Amman-based ICRC communication officer, told The Jordan Times the committee appealed to Israel to help minimise the risks posed by conditions in the camp.

ICRC and PRC relief teams realised on Monday they lacked the necessary equipment and expertise to pull out bodies, dead or alive, buried under the debris.

"We explained to the Israeli authorities that Jenin camp was a military zone and [a security] risk for us. They agreed to extend their assistance in this regard," said Kassis.

During the team's mission on Monday, relief workers escaped harm when a bomb exploded a mere 15 metres away from where they were working.