Saudi Red Crescent deploys 11 air ambulances, 120 ground units for Hajj
RIYADH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has activated its air ambulance service for the 2025 Hajj season, deploying 11 aircraft from 13 strategically located helipads to transport critical medical cases from the Grand Mosque and holy sites.
This is to ensure rapid emergency response throughout pilgrimage areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Air ambulances play a vital role in supporting the seasonal emergency network by ensuring the rapid transportation of patients and injured individuals; facilitating medical evacuations between healthcare facilities; and deploying specialized medical teams to high-density areas or critical emergencies.
Simultaneously, SRCA has enhanced its operational capacity with over 120 ambulance units operating continuously, supported by more than 100 vehicles across Makkah. Strategic distribution includes 45 units in the northeast and western sectors, 15 units covering southern zones, and 20 units in central areas.
Advanced mobile resources include more than 160 emergency medical technicians; 12 motorized emergency vehicles; and three golf carts fitted as portable ambulances for restricted-access zones. These assets ensure comprehensive preparedness for potential emergencies.
More than 30 emergency units have been strategically stationed at the Grand Mosque. These include seven teams in the Masa'a and Saudi Corridor, eight teams across the Masa'a and eastern courtyards, 10 teams covering western and southern courtyards, and two in the third Saudi expansion zone.
These units are staffed by more than 60 paramedics and reinforced by 16 medical golf carts for rapid response in high-density areas.
The service is supported by more than 120 highly qualified physicians and emergency technicians who work around the clock to provide urgent medical care to pilgrims.
Supporting these operations are over 550 volunteers from the authority's teams, distributed across more than 200 units operating continuously. These specialized teams provide emergency medical coverage across all high-traffic pilgrimage routes.
This integrated system forms a fundamental pillar of the Hajj emergency plan, significantly contributing to reduced response times.
It reflects the Kingdom's high level of preparedness and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare to pilgrims. This initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for all pilgrims.
These measures form part of a coordinated government-wide system involving multiple entities focused on improving medical transport, safety and service quality for pilgrims.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pilgrims arrive at Mina as annual Hajj rituals begin
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, including Pakistanis, have started arriving at Mina, marking the beginning of annual Hajj rituals in the Saudi holy city of Makkah. Nearly 89,000 Pakistanis have traveled to Saudi Arabia under the government's Hajj scheme and over 23,620 Pakistanis are performing Hajj through private tour operators. Pakistan's Hajj Mission has completed all arrangements for the transportation of pilgrims to the world's largest tent valley at Mina, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. 'Over 88,000 pilgrims under government Hajj scheme will reach Mina via 932 buses before Zuhr prayer tomorrow,' the broadcaster said on Tuesday. 'Pilgrims will remain at Mina until Fajr next morning (Thursday), the 9th Dhul Hijjah. Then, the Hujjaj will proceed to the valley of Arafat to perform 'Waqoof-e-Arafa,' the main ritual of Hajj and offer Zuhr and Asr prayers there.' The Pakistan Hajj Mission has urged the pilgrims to follow their scheduled departure time to avoid the risk of overcrowding amid hot weather conditions, according to the report. The mission earlier advised Pakistani pilgrims to follow the directives issued by Saudi Arabia concerning the stoning of the devil or 'Rami Al-Jamarat' and animal sacrifice rituals during the annual Islamic pilgrimage. Each 'Maktab' will have designated timings for the act of stoning the devil on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, Radio Pakistan reported. 'Every 'Nazim' [administrator] is bound to ensure that the intending pilgrims perform this ritual as per their allocated time slot,' it said, citing the Pakistani Hajj Mission. 'Therefore, all pilgrims are advised to proceed in groups under the supervision of their 'Nazim' as per schedule.' The state broadcaster also reported that the Saudi authorities have set the time for sacrificing animals for Pakistani pilgrims on the night between the 10th and 11th of Dhul Hijjah at 12:30am. 'Hence, all pilgrims are urged to complete the 'Rami' of the first day before midnight,' the Pakistani mission said. The annual pilgrimage will conclude on Monday, June 9.
Saudi Press
2 hours ago
- Saudi Press
Pilgrims from 100 Nations Welcomed in Makkah Under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hajj Program
Pilgrims from 100 Nations Welcomed in Makkah Under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hajj Program 3 hours ago Mecca Voice reader
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
US-backed Gaza aid centres to close temporarily
Aid centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israel-backed agency, will temporarily close Wednesday for renovation, it said. 'June 4, distribution centres will be closed for renovation, reorganization and efficiency improvement work,' GHF wrote on Facebook. Aid distribution will resume Thursday, it added. The Israeli army confirmed the temporary closure. 'It is prohibited tomorrow (Wednesday) to travel on roads leading to the distribution centres, which are considered combat zones,' Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on social media. An officially private effort with opaque funding, GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into Gaza for over two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. But GHF's first week of operations, in which it said it had distributed more than seven million meals' worth of food, has been marred by criticism. The Israeli military faces allegations of shooting into crowds of civilians rushing to pick up aid packages near GHF sites. Israeli authorities and the GHF— which uses contracted US security—denied any such incident took place. The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. For decades, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA had spearheaded aid distribution in Gaza, with dozens of other organizations participating in efforts to assist the population. Israel has accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants, claiming that some of the agency's employees took part in the group's October 7 attack.
