Pilgrims on the outskirts of Makkah, near Hira Cave, on Tuesday. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation while he was praying in the cave. (AP)  

Ministry promises safe Haj Arab News  

Arab News, 8 of Dhul Hijja, 1430 H, November 25, 2009

MINA:

The Saudi Ministry of Interior is not expecting infiltrators to launch a surprise attack during the current Haj season.

“I affirm that there will be no surprise attack. We will not allow any surprise attacks to occur because we have security plans devised on the basis of past experiences in serving of pilgrims,” said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, at a press conference on Tuesday at the headquarters of Public Security in Mina.

“Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif has clearly outlined what security preparations have been made for Haj, especially in preventing anything that would endanger pilgrims,” he added.

Al-Turki said it was premature to predict whether the number of pilgrims would be less than last year. “It is not yet time to say what the number of pilgrims will be. The official number of Haj permits issued to pilgrims and the number of illegal pilgrims will be issued on Friday,” he added.

Al-Turki said that nothing unexpected has occurred during the first phase of the ministry’s plans for Haj. The first phase ended on Tuesday.

“Officials at checkpoints to Makkah and holy sites will continue looking for illegal pilgrims until Friday,” he said. He urged all domestic pilgrims to adhere to Haj regulations to guarantee them a comfortable Haj. He also noted that pilgrims have not faced problems while performing the Tawaf (circumambulation).

Al-Turki said, “More than 20,000 security men have been sent to Jamrat Bridge to control crowding and thus ensure safety of pilgrims. The decision to ban small vehicles carrying less than 25 passengers is being implemented after studying it over the past two years.

“With the speed train project for the holy sites reaching its final stage of completion authorities have found that it is time to implement the ban on small vehicles.”

Speaking on the occasion, spokesman for the Ministry of Health Khaled Al-Mirghalani said the ministry started preparations for Haj well in advance and convened an international conference on H1N1 flu. He added that the ministry has also adopted a series of preventive measures at all land, sea and air entry points to the Kingdom.

“There is no fear of a swine flu outbreak in Haj largely because of the early precautionary measures being taken to deal with a breakout,” he said.

“Only four deaths and 68 cases have been reported among pilgrims,” he said attributing the deaths to people not taking enough precautionary measures before coming into the Kingdom.

He added that all hospitals and medical centers in Makkah and the holy sites are fully prepared to receive flu cases.

Answering questions about the controversy over the use of the vaccine, he said: “The World Health Organization never issued a warning against the H1N1 virus vaccine. It recommended the vaccine. While more than 70 million people the world over have been vaccinated none of them is known to have shown any negative indications.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khaled Al-Habshi from the Red Crescent said small vehicles such as motorcycles would be used as ambulances in certain locations of the holy sites that are difficult for large ambulances to reach.

There are also well-laid plans to counter natural calamities such as heavy rains and floods with sufficient numbers of boats, divers and rescue shelters, he said.

Free repair for pilgrim vehicles

Anwar Al-Sayed | Arab News  

MAKKAH:

Students from technical colleges and vocational training institutes are volunteering to repair vehicles transporting pilgrims to Makkah and the holy sites free of charge. The initiative forms part of a program implemented by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).

Chairman of the board of directors of TVTC Rashid bin Muhammad Al-Zahrani said under the organization’s emergency maintenance program, students will be positioned along roads leading to the holy sites to repair vehicles transporting pilgrims if they break down.

“The program will not only ensure the smooth flow of traffic but will also enable the students to obtain practical skills of dealing with emergency cases in addition to consolidating the principle of serving pilgrims as a religious and national duty,” he said.

Zahrani said the program was first introduced last Ramadan and would continue in the future to provide emergency maintenance free of charge during Haj.

The program’s supervisor Hassan Ghandourah said four well-equipped maintenance cars each carrying two technical supervisors and four mechanics and electricians are roaming the roads leading to the Grand Mosque and the holy sites to give immediate help to drivers in need.

10 million free meals for Haj

Galal Fakkar | Arab News  

JEDDAH:

A number of Saudi businessmen and welfare organizations have signed contracts with five-star hotels and high class restaurants to provide 10 million free meals for distribution to pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah for the five days of Haj.

“The InterContinental hotels in Jeddah and Makkah have signed contracts with about 20 Saudi businessmen and charities to provide hot and cold meals for distribution free of charge among the guests of God,” said Bandar Al-Harbi, general manager of InterContinental hotels in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Harbi added that hotel chains have been preparing and distributing food free of charge from refrigerated trucks and catering vehicles among pilgrims in the holy sites for years.

Muhammad Al-Rifaie, a PR officer at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, said the current world financial crisis has not affected charity work in the Kingdom, especially that which is carried out during Haj and Ramadan. “Millions of hot and cold meals are being distributed free of charge among pilgrims,” he said.

Several charities will be setting up restaurants to distribute free food in Arafat, including, among many others, those bearing the name of the late King Fahd, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, and Saudi businessman Muhammad bin Abood Al-Amoudi.

Al-Amoudi’s restaurant will be set up close to Mount Rahmah and will have separate sections for men and women. He said more than 2,000 pilgrims can sit and have their meals on tables in the restaurants and also take food away. “We also serve pilgrims with free tea, coffee, water and soft drinks,” he added.

Because of the H1N1 pandemic, Al-Amoudi will also be distributing over 600,000 surgical masks and more than 1.2 million sterilizers to pilgrims through 37 stalls in the holy sites.