Mina, SPA:
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Makkah Region, who is also Chairman of Hajj Central Committee, announced that all pilgrims were successfully ascended to Mina to stay the night in the valley of Mina before heading for Arafat area early tomorrow morning.
In a press conference, he said the number of pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom from abroad until yesterday stood at 1752392 pilgrims representing 189 nationalities from all over the world.
Asked about the number of domestic pilgrims, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal declined to give a specific number 'as many trek their way in without permission', he stated.
He reassured the health situation for pilgrims 'as excellent', vowing that no serious illnesses or epidemics monitored, according accurate health ministry reports.
Giving concise reports on major services by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to pilgrims, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal said the Ministry of Health made available more than 3000 beds in eight hospitals in Makkah, seven in the other holy places, more than 150 health centers; the Ministry of Water and Electricity provided more than 600,000 cu.m. of water, operated six new power transforming stations; the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs recruited 12,000 cleaners; the Ministry of Transport's train will pick some 500,000 pilgrims and provided 20,000 buses; the Ministry of Interior recruited around 60,000 security men in the holy shrines area with an overall number tolling 82,000; civil defense men 26,500 with 152 Red Crescent centers equipped with 510 ambulances.
As per phase I, 36,000 water circulation have been established in Mina and Muzdalifah, with phase II under construction, he said.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal gave an account on the projects introduced this year to make the Hajj journey a pleasant and true worshipping one, citing the camels and cows slaughter house, Jamarat expansion project, tunnels and roads in the holy places.
Asked about a proposal to stop using mini buses in Hajj area, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal referred to a study approved by the monarch last Ramadan including a huge transport project to solve the increasing need of pilgrims to transportation, depicting transportation as the basic pillar in Hajj services, followed by housing.
He lauded the progress achieved by the authorities concerned to bar unlicensed pilgrims from entering the Hajj areas, expressing hope that following a 'step by step' policy, one day the phenomenon will be controlled and infiltrating disappears.
He admitted that still some people practice the job of helping others to hide out and find an illegal way into the sacred area during Hajj.
Asked about the possibility of adding more stories to the Jamarat to reach eight, he said studies show the technical possibility but actually there is no plan as such for the time being.
Asked about the defect through which the problem of infiltrators to Hajj areas arise, he lashed out at the understanding of Saudi society. To explain this, he, first, cast light on the grace by Allah Almighty on the Saudis to become servants of guests of God. Depicting Hajj as an extraordinary event and the true work of the Saudi government, he said Saudi officials and ordinary citizens should be absolutely aware of this responsibility. Had we obtained the culture of Hajj as responsibility and not an event to get benefit of, then we could solve any problem in Hajj, he was quoted as saying. He called for spreading the culture of Islamic hospitality.
In response to a question, he said the art of crowds management is the one that Saudi Arabia could teach the world how to do it.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Makkah Region, who is also Chairman of Hajj Central Committee, announced that all pilgrims were successfully ascended to Mina to stay the night in the valley of Mina before heading for Arafat area early tomorrow morning.
In a press conference, he said the number of pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom from abroad until yesterday stood at 1752392 pilgrims representing 189 nationalities from all over the world.
Asked about the number of domestic pilgrims, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal declined to give a specific number 'as many trek their way in without permission', he stated.
He reassured the health situation for pilgrims 'as excellent', vowing that no serious illnesses or epidemics monitored, according accurate health ministry reports.
Giving concise reports on major services by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to pilgrims, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal said the Ministry of Health made available more than 3000 beds in eight hospitals in Makkah, seven in the other holy places, more than 150 health centers; the Ministry of Water and Electricity provided more than 600,000 cu.m. of water, operated six new power transforming stations; the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs recruited 12,000 cleaners; the Ministry of Transport's train will pick some 500,000 pilgrims and provided 20,000 buses; the Ministry of Interior recruited around 60,000 security men in the holy shrines area with an overall number tolling 82,000; civil defense men 26,500 with 152 Red Crescent centers equipped with 510 ambulances.
As per phase I, 36,000 water circulation have been established in Mina and Muzdalifah, with phase II under construction, he said.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal gave an account on the projects introduced this year to make the Hajj journey a pleasant and true worshipping one, citing the camels and cows slaughter house, Jamarat expansion project, tunnels and roads in the holy places.
Asked about a proposal to stop using mini buses in Hajj area, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal referred to a study approved by the monarch last Ramadan including a huge transport project to solve the increasing need of pilgrims to transportation, depicting transportation as the basic pillar in Hajj services, followed by housing.
He lauded the progress achieved by the authorities concerned to bar unlicensed pilgrims from entering the Hajj areas, expressing hope that following a 'step by step' policy, one day the phenomenon will be controlled and infiltrating disappears.
He admitted that still some people practice the job of helping others to hide out and find an illegal way into the sacred area during Hajj.
Asked about the possibility of adding more stories to the Jamarat to reach eight, he said studies show the technical possibility but actually there is no plan as such for the time being.
Asked about the defect through which the problem of infiltrators to Hajj areas arise, he lashed out at the understanding of Saudi society. To explain this, he, first, cast light on the grace by Allah Almighty on the Saudis to become servants of guests of God. Depicting Hajj as an extraordinary event and the true work of the Saudi government, he said Saudi officials and ordinary citizens should be absolutely aware of this responsibility. Had we obtained the culture of Hajj as responsibility and not an event to get benefit of, then we could solve any problem in Hajj, he was quoted as saying. He called for spreading the culture of Islamic hospitality.
In response to a question, he said the art of crowds management is the one that Saudi Arabia could teach the world how to do it.
Last Modified Date: 10/02/2013 - 2:31 PM Saudi Arabia Time
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