The Third Daily Press Conference for Hajj Season 1445 AH
المؤتمر الصحفي اليومي الثالث لموسم حج 1445 هـ
Today's press briefing by the Ministry of Interior marked the third day of the Hajj 1445 AH. It featured spokespeople from the Ministries of Interior, Hajj and Umrah, Health, and Transport and Logistics Services. Colonel Talal bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Shalhoub, the security spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, announced the successful completion of pilgrims' transportation. This morning, pilgrims safely returned to Mina, performed Tawaf al-Ifadah, and conducted the ritual stoning at the Jamarat with high order and tranquillity. He emphasized that security forces are tirelessly working to ensure the safety and security of all Mina pilgrims during their rituals at Masjid Al-Haram and at the Jamarat facility. This includes meticulous management of pedestrian and crowd movements across all pathways linking the pilgrims' camps in Mina to the Jamarat facility and Masjid Al-Haram. Colonel Al-Shalhoub also urged pilgrims to adhere to the organized schedules and designated pathways for performing their rituals during the Days of Tashreeq and to maintain calm and orderly movements. He noted the significant role of the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in Makkah, which received 78,872 calls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, handling everything from security concerns to service inquiries. Dr. Aayidh Al-Ghuwainim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, highlighted the successful, smooth movement of pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifah and then to Mina within 10 hours. Thanks to advanced technologies used to allocate pilgrim locations and create movement schedules, over 95% of pilgrims adhered to the schedules. He mentioned that the arrival of approximately 800,000 pilgrims in Mina before dawn was smoothly facilitated, with a strategic distribution across the Jamarat facility floors. The sacrificial animal (Hady and Udhiyah) operations were also discussed. The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites plays a pivotal role in coordinating with the Holy Capital Municipality and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture to manage these operations to the highest environmental standards. Additionally, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's third consecutive Hajj Services Conference and Exhibition saw the participation of 80 ministers and officials from various countries and nearly 200 service companies, aiming to align efforts to maximize pilgrim satisfaction. Saleh Al-Zuwaid, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, explained that the Al-Mashaaer Train and over 2,400 shuttle buses are efficiently transporting pilgrims between Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Masjid Al-Haram. Preparations for the departure phase are also underway, with the Haramain Train expected to reach its operational peak on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Dr. Muhammad bin Khalid Al-Abd Al-Aali, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, reassured the health and epidemiological status of the pilgrims, noting that there have been 2,764 cases of heat exhaustion and sunstroke, which could have been minimized with better adherence to sun avoidance measures and hydration. This press conference underlined the concerted efforts of all participating ministries to ensure a safe, orderly, and spiritually fulfilling Hajj for all pilgrims.