Saudi Gazette Report

ARAFAT — Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, security spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, announced on Saturday that the first phase of the Hajj security plans had been completed, with all the pilgrims ascended at Arafat on time, thanks to the integrated traffic and organizational plans featuring flexibility, promptness and efficiency.

Addressing daily press conference for this year’s Hajj at Arafat on Saturday, Col. Al-Shalhoub said that penalties were slapped on 25 violators of Hajj regulations and instructions on the night of Dhul Hijjah 9 for transporting 103 people who did not have a permit for Hajj.

The spokesman said that the second phase of the Mashaer Train trips is currently being implemented to transport pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifah to spend the night there before resuming their journey back to Mina to stay there on the day of Eid Al-Adha on Sunday and the succeeding days of Tashreeq. He said that the security personnel are deployed to manage and organize the smooth movement of vehicles on the roads leading to Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina, and to follow and support pedestrian pilgrims who walk on the roads designated for them.

He said that security personnel are working to support the organization of transporting pilgrims through shuttle services, and crowd control at the Mashaer Train stations in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, as well as managing and organizing pedestrian movement on the roads from Muzdalifah to Mina and the roads linking Mina to the Grand Mosque and the Jamarat facility, in addition to managing and organizing crowds at the Grand Mosque to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah, one of the four pillars of Hajj.

He called on the guests of God to continue adhering to the regulations and instructions, and comply with the dates, routes and directions specified for them in organizing the grouping to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah and to perform the ritual of stoning at Jamrat Al-Aqaba on Sunday.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Aali, spokesman of the Ministry of Health, affirmed the success of the ministry’s health plan on the Day of Arafat. “More than 112,000 pilgrims have benefited from various integrated medical services and healthcare provided by the ministry to the guests of God, from the first day of Dhul Qada until the day of Arafat, and these services varied between medical and specialized clinics, pharmacies, dialysis centers, intensive care rooms, and isolation units.

Al-Abdel Aali said that 20 open-heart surgeries, 230 cardiac catheterizations, and 819 kidney dialysis operations were performed, apart from monitoring 569 cases of heat exhaustion. He called on pilgrims to always use umbrellas to prevent sunstroke and thermal shock, while performing rituals at the Holy Sites.

He advised pilgrims to adhere to other measures to prevent sunstroke such as staying away from going out and being directly exposed to sun rays, or walking on or touching surfaces during peak hours, drinking water in sufficient quantities throughout the day, even if they do not feel thirsty, and avoid stress by taking a break from time to time.

Ayed Al-Ghuwaynem, undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, announced that the phase of transporting pilgrims to Arafat has been completed by 10:30 a.m. with ease according to the plans. He stressed the keenness to strengthen the presence of field teams throughout the entire Hajj journey so that pilgrims can guarantee their rights while performing their rituals.

Saleh Al-Zowaid, spokesman for the transportation system, said that more than 300,000 pilgrims were transported via the Mashaer Train.