Ministry of Interior Security Spokesman Colonel Talal bin Shalhoub announced that the first phase of the plan to transport pilgrims to the holy sites during the eighth day of Dul-Hijjah has been carried out with complete smoothness and tranquility.
The spokesman also said that the transport of pilgrims from Makkah and the Grand Mosque to Mina to spend the day of Tarwiyah (water provision) there in preparation for their march to Mount Arafat to perform the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage on the evening of Tuesday, the eighth day of Dul-Hijjah, has completed. He said the ascension of pilgrims from Makkah to Arafat, where they will spend the night of 9th day of Dul-Hijjah has already begun and was ongoing.
He noted that all security and government agencies are carrying out their duties at the holy sites to ensure a smooth performance of the Hajj rituals according to relevant plans, adding that the Hajj security agencies are moving ahead with their duties in verifying that pilgrims from the Kingdom have obtained the necessary permits for Hajj.
The spokesman said the security bodies will continue to carry out their tasks at all entrances leading to Makkah and the roads and passages leading to the Grand Mosque and impose a tight security cordon around the holy sites until the end of the Hajj season.
He also said that some people had been caught at the entrances to Makkah and the holy sites for attempting to perform Hajj without a permit, adding that they have been fined and returned according to relevant laws and regulations. He warned that those caught transporting people with no Hajj permits will face a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of SAR50,000 as well as defamation and deportation if he is an expatriate, and will be prohibited from entering the Kingdom according to the periods specified by law.
For his part, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, Dr. Ayed Algwinm, said that all preparations had been put in place, including well-equipped camps, to ensure that pilgrims perform their Hajj rituals with complete peace and tranquility.
He explained that 65 percent of the pilgrims had ascended to Mina, with the remaining 35 percent to be headed to Arafat according to their wish, stressing that the ministry is continuing its efforts to ensure the well-being of pilgrims and that they receive high-quality services.
In partnership with the National Center for Environmental Compliance, Algwinm also said that air quality is being constantly tested at the holy sites, adding that the ten monitoring centers in Makkah and other holy sites have been reporting good air quality levels over the past 20 days.
The ministry of health spokesman, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, stressed the ministry’s keenness to ensure pilgrims' comfort in integrating with relevant authorities. The ministry is also keen to ensure full preparedness to serve pilgrims through plans being implemented by over 32,000 cadres, he noted.
Dr. Al-Abdulaali said the services are provided to pilgrims through a network of 140 health centers and 32 hospitals, including three field hospitals with 6,132 beds. Hospital beds include 761 intensive care beds and 222 beds to treat heat exhaustion and heatstroke patients, he added.
Several medical centers and emergency points are stationed in several places to serve pilgrims, Dr. Al-Abdulaali said, noting that the health workforce relocates according to the pilgrims’ movements to perform the Hajj rituals.
A fleet of 190 ambulances and 16 emergency medical centers and points are stationed at the Jamarat bridge facilities in the holy site of Mina, he said.
Alongside these services, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority also serves pilgrims with thousands of healthcare practitioners and other cadres, Dr. Al-Abdulaali said. Hence, he said there are 247 ambulances equipped with the latest medical equipment, adding that a group of volunteers are participating in extending the services.
The public health authority also provides a significant range of services, including monitoring the epidemiological situation with mobile monitoring and support units, Dr. Al-Abdulaali affirmed.
He noted the role played by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) in inspecting food, medicines, and devices at the ports and conducting nearly 3,000 inspection tours to improve food safety.
He said the services above had been extended to more than 81,000 pilgrims during this Hajj season, noting that the provided services have included conducting 23 open-heart surgeries, 168 cardiac catheterizations, and 460 dialysis sessions. Also, around 900 patients have benefited from the healthcare services provided by the virtual hospital, he said.
The health status of the pilgrims is reassuring, Dr. Al-Abdulaali said, stressing that no outbreaks or diseases threatening public health have been recorded among the pilgrims. Meanwhile, he urged pilgrims to adhere to measures of protection from heat and direct exposure to sunlight and to drink plenty of fluids during their movements.
