Daily Press Conference for the 1445 AH Hajj Season
المؤتمر الصحفي اليومي الثاني لموسم حج 1445 هـ
The Ministry of Interior held its daily press conference for the 1445 AH Hajj season. The conference featured the Ministry's security spokesperson and official spokespersons from the Ministries of Hajj and Umrah, Health, and Transport and Logistics Services. Colonel Talal bin Abdulmohsen Al-Shalhoub, the security spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, announced the completion of the first phase of the Hajj security plans. All pilgrims arrived safely at Arafah, and the transportation from Makkah to the holy sites over the past 24 hours was conducted securely and calmly. Pilgrims spent the day of Tarwiyah and overnight in Mina before continuing their journey to Arafah this morning according to comprehensive traffic and organizational plans, characterized by flexibility and efficiency in transporting pilgrims via buses, the Mashair Train, and shuttle services. He stated that the second phase of the pilgrimage journey is underway. It involves transporting pilgrims from Arafah to Muzdalifah for an overnight stay before returning to Mina for Eid al-Adha and the Days of Tashreeq. During this period, pilgrims will perform the Tawaf al-Ifadah and stone the Jamaraat according to the specified plans and regulations. Colonel Al-Shalhoub praised the efforts of the security personnel in managing the second phase of pilgrim transportation at the holy sites, including organizing vehicle traffic on the roads leading to Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina, assisting pedestrians on designated paths, supporting shuttle services, and managing crowds at the Mashair Train stations in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. They also managed pedestrian traffic on the roads from Muzdalifah to Mina and the routes connecting Mina with Masjid Al-Haram and the Jamaraat facility, as well as organizing crowds in Masjid Al-Haram for Tawaf al-Ifadah and at the Jamaraat facility for stoning. He urged the pilgrims to continue adhering to the regulations and instructions, follow the designated schedules, routes, and directions for performing Tawaf al-Ifadah and stoning the Jamaraat after returning to Mina from Muzdalifah, and comply with the guidance of security personnel on the routes leading to Mina, Masjid Al-Haram, and the Jamaraat facility. The security spokesperson reported that 25 violators of Hajj regulations were apprehended on the night of the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah for transporting 103 pilgrims without Hajj permits, and penalties were imposed on them. The Unified Security Operations Center (911) in the Makkah region received 52,274 calls from 3 PM on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah to 3 PM today, covering security reports and service inquiries, all of which were addressed. Dr. Ayedh bin Mohammed Al-Ghunaim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, confirmed the successful ascent of pilgrims to Arafah smoothly and with reassurance. The ascent was completed at 10:30 AM, fulfilling all pilgrimage plans according to religious licenses. He noted that pilgrims are moving from Arafah to Muzdalifah as planned to spend the evening in the sacred site, preparing to return to Mina for the Day of Greater Hajj. Pilgrims are served by a harmonious system of various entities, employing qualified human resources and unlimited capabilities under the wise leadership's directives to provide all necessary services for their comfort and satisfaction. Dr. Al-Ghunaim highlighted the Ministry's efforts to enhance the presence of field teams led by 4,000 field monitors to ensure accurate execution of transportation plans. He mentioned the importance of the Nusuk card during transportation and dispatch operations, noting that the card's QR code scans reached nearly 5 million just before the press conference. Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaaly, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, praised the successful completion of Arafah Day rituals, with the health system's plans for the day being executed successfully. Over 112,081 pilgrims received health services in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient clinics this Hajj season. Twenty pilgrims underwent open-heart surgeries, 230 cardiac catheterizations were performed, and 819 kidney dialysis sessions were conducted. The virtual health hospital continues providing about 5,114 services to pilgrims, including immediate virtual medical consultations available 24/7 in several languages. He noted that the biggest challenge this Hajj season is the high temperatures, with 569 cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke reported today. These cases were monitored and quickly addressed to save lives and prevent harm. He emphasized the importance of taking medical precautions, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, drinking adequate fluids, resting periodically, and using umbrellas for sun protection. Dr. Al-Abdulaaly advised pilgrims to maintain general hygiene, ensure food safety by avoiding food exposed to high temperatures, and consult a doctor if they have chronic diseases. He urged pilgrims to avoid physical exertion and to contact the 937-call center for health services or medical consultations, provided by expert consultants and healthcare practitioners, available 24/7. Services can also be accessed via the "Sehaty" app and the virtual health hospital. Salih bin Ibrahim Al-Zuwaid, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services spokesperson highlighted all governmental entities' efforts to serve the pilgrims. He reported the efficient transportation of over 300,000 pilgrims from Mina to Arafah early today, with a 106% on-time performance rate for Mashair. Train trips. The train services began 45 minutes before the scheduled departure, with movements from Arafah to Muzdalifah continuing until 2:30 AM. Following this, the Mashair Train will transport pilgrims from Muzdalifah to Mina for the stoning of Jamaraat, continuing until the morning of Eid al-Adha. He mentioned that over 7,500 crowd managers on the Mashair Train speak more than seven languages to serve the pilgrims. High compliance from licensed transport companies facilitated over 160,000 vehicle inspections using virtual reality glasses, reducing inspection time by 600%, with buses inspected in just six seconds. Drones were used to measure 25 indicators for bus traffic flow at the holy sites, utilizing AI technologies to improve future operations. Pilgrims benefited from flexible paths in Arafah and rubber sidewalks, reducing stress, and cooled roads around the Arafah Mosque, lowering surface temperatures by over 20%. Additionally, 3,000 scooters were provided for the elderly and disabled on three main routes. The transportation of pilgrims between the holy sites was conducted smoothly, following the plans set in partnership with all relevant governmental entities.