Latest news with #HajjCompanies
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
How Saudi Arabia plans to avoid repeat of last year's record Hajj deaths as temperature again hits 50C
Saudi Arabia has introduced stricter rules for Hajj pilgrims amid growing concerns about extreme heat, which took a deadly toll last year. Authorities have warned that temperatures during this year's pilgrimage, in mid-June, could again reach or exceed 50C. With millions of Muslims from around the world expected to arrive in Mecca, authorities have ramped up preparations, aiming to avoid a repeat of last year when over 1,300 deaths were reported due to extreme heat. The kingdom says it is ramping up efforts to keep a track of the health conditions of people with the help of technology and intensifying enforcement against unregistered pilgrims who could be at risk without proper access to shelter and water. There are fines of up to $5,000 and other punitive measures, like deportation, for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The policy includes citizens and those with Saudi residency. At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city. Rules only allow people with permits to perform the annual pilgrimage even if they live in the city year-round. Authorities have also imposed penalties on over 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the licences of 400 Hajj companies. 'In 2023, over 80 per cent of the 1,300 deaths were unregistered pilgrims,' Saudi health minister Fahad Al-Jalajel said, noting that many of the deceased were elderly or had chronic illnesses. 'This year, we are using technology and coordination with international missions to ensure pilgrims are accounted for and protected.' Authorities are giving pilgrims smart wearable devices that monitor body temperature and heart rate and send alerts if there are signs of heat exhaustion. They are also adding more air-conditioned rest stops, misting stations, shaded areas, and water supply points along key pilgrimage routes. Saudi authorities are also urging pilgrims to take personal precautions, including staying hydrated, using umbrellas, avoiding peak sun hours, and following official guidelines. Pilgrims are now required to carry health ID cards and download the official 'Nusuk' app to access updates, navigation and emergency assistance. The Saudi Arabia n Civil Defense said they were using drones for the first time at the Hajj. The drones could be used for surveillance and monitoring as well as extinguishing fires. The ministry of Islamic affairs has shortened the waiting time between prayer calls at mosques across Mecca during the Hajj period. Worshippers will have less time between the call to prayer and the start of the congregational prayer – a move aimed at reducing long waits in sweltering temperatures. Since the Muslim calendar is typically 10 days shorter than the solar year, the Hajj occurs in summer in some years, increasing the likelihood of dangerously high temperatures. In 2024, Mecca recorded temperatures as high as 51.8C during the pilgrimage. Weather forecasts for 2025 indicate another sweltering Hajj, with the Saudi National Centre for Meteorology warning of 'above-average temperatures' across the region in June. Scientific studies, including by UN bodies, have been warning of extreme heat events becoming deadlier due to the climate crisis, especially in countries with already high summer temperatures like Saudi Arabia. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is obligatory for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake at least once. This year, Saudi Arabia expects over two million pilgrims to attend.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Drones used to surveil Hajj participants as 269,000 barred from Mecca
Saudi Arabian authorities have stopped more than 269,000 people without the necessary permits from entering Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Saudi government attributes overcrowding during the Hajj to unauthorised participants, noting that many who died in last year's extreme heat lacked official permission. There are currently 1.4 million Muslims officially in Mecca, with more expected in the coming days. Fines of up to $5,000 and deportation are imposed on those performing the Hajj without a permit, including citizens and Saudi residents. Officials have penalised more than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the licenses of 400 Hajj companies. Drones are being used for surveillance and fire monitoring.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Mecca: Saudi Arabia launches Hajj permit crackdown in bid to stop heat deaths
Saudi Arabian authorities have stopped over 269,000 individuals without the necessary permits from entering Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, officials announced on Sunday. The Saudi government attributes overcrowding during the Hajj to unauthorized participants, also noting that many of those who died in last year's extreme summer heat were those without official permission. These expulsions highlight the extent of unauthorized pilgrimages, as well as the strong desire to participate in the Hajj. Currently, there are 1.4 million Muslims officially in Mecca, with further arrivals expected in the coming days. There are fines of up to $5,000 and other punitive measures, like deportation, for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The policy includes citizens and those with Saudi residency. At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city. According to the rules, only those with permits are allowed to perform the pilgrimage, even if they live in the city year-round. Officials have also imposed penalties on more than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the licenses of 400 Hajj companies. Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Omari told the media: 'The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.' The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and involves a series of religious rituals. It's a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. But it has been marred in recent years by concerns about extreme temperatures, with pilgrims performing their rituals outdoors in peak daylight hours. Historically, deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, which has seen at times over 2 million people travel to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage. It has also seen fatal stampedes and other accidents. Saudi Arabia 's Civil Defense said Sunday that drones were being used for the first time at the Hajj. These can be used for surveillance and monitoring, as well as extinguishing fires.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities in Mecca crack down on Hajj pilgrims without permits
Security forces in Mecca are cracking down on people trying to make a pilgrimage without a permit, as the Islamic holy city prepares to host hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers. Ahead of the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, authorities have denied access to Mecca to around 270,000 people because they did not have official permits, the Hajj Security Committee said on Sunday. In addition, more than 400 illegal Hajj companies have been discovered, along with more than 5,000 vehicles that were meant to transport unauthorized pilgrims to the holy sites. The Hajj is expected to begin on Wednesday. Nearly 1.5 million people have travelled from abroad to take part. Last year, around 1.8 million people participated. For many Muslims around the world, the Hajj is one of the most important religious experiences of their lives and is also one of the five pillars of Islam. Because the cost for a pilgrim from abroad can be equivalent to $5,700 or significantly more, some try to get to Mecca through unofficial channels. They enter the country as tourists and then visit the holy sites in Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage without the required Hajj permit. Locals also try to take part in the pilgrimage without authorization.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Saudi Arabia stops 269,678 Muslims without Hajj permits from entering Mecca
Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they gather outside Nimrah Mosque to offer the noon prayers in Arafat, on the second day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File) MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia has stopped more than 269,000 people without permits for the annual Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca, officials said Sunday, as authorities crack down on illegal journeys into the city. The government blames overcrowding at the Hajj on unauthorized participants. It also says they made up large numbers of those who died in last year's searing summer heat. The number of expulsions highlights the scale of unauthorized pilgrimages — as well as the demand to perform the Hajj. There are currently 1.4 million Muslims in Mecca officially, with more expected to arrive in the days to come. There are fines of up to US$5,000 and other punitive measures, like deportation, for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The policy includes citizens and those with Saudi residency. At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city. According to the rules, only those with permits are allowed to perform the pilgrimage, even if they live in the city year-round. Officials have also imposed penalties on more than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the licenses of 400 Hajj companies. Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Omari told the media: 'The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.' The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and involves a series of religious rituals. It's a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. But it has been marred in recent years by concerns about extreme temperatures, with pilgrims performing their rituals outdoors in peak daylight hours. Historically, deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, which has seen at times over two million people travel to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage. It has also seen fatal stampedes and other accidents. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense said Sunday that drones were being used for the first time at the Hajj. These can be used for surveillance and monitoring, as well as extinguishing fires. Baraa Anwer, The Associated Press
