Mina, June 17, 2024. The Ministry of Interior held today's daily press conference for the 1445 AH/2024 AD Hajj season, announcing the successful completion of pilgrim transportation within the holy sites as they returned to Mina this morning.
Colonel Talal Al-Shalhoub, Security Spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, stated that the pilgrims carried out the Tawaf (circumambulation) of Al-Ifadah and the stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqaba in a safe and peaceful manner.
He emphasized the security forces' continuous commitment to carrying out their duty in ensuring the pilgrims' security and safety during their stay in Mina, including rites at the Grand Mosque and the Jamarat Bridge.
Al-Shalhoub asked pilgrims to continue following the rules that govern their travels during the Days of Tashriq. This includes adhering to the regulated flow and specified directions on the roads leading to the Jamarat Bridge and the Grand Mosque while departing and returning.
He also asked pilgrims not to bring luggage to the Jamarat Bridge or the Grand Mosque, and to keep their movements calm and orderly.
Al-Shalhoub warned individuals rushing to leave Mina on the second day of Tashriq not to leave their encampment before the specified periods set by the officials in charge of their service.
He praised the security sectors' efforts, saying that the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in the Makkah region received a total of 78,872 calls on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah. Calls ranged from security reports to service and general inquiries, all of which were satisfactorily resolved.
Regarding pilgrim movement, Ayed Al-Ghuwaynem, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, stated that around 800,000 pilgrims arrived in Mina before dawn today, and the influx continued until 8:30 a.m.
Around 850,000 pilgrims have completed the Tawaf Al-Ifadah since midnight, using busses to and from the Grand Mosque via 11 Mina stations, he said. The journeys will last 35 hours and transport approximately 1,350,000 pilgrims.
Al-Ghuwaynem further stated that the activities involving Hady and Adahi's sacrificial sacrifices were organized in accordance with the highest environmental standards, utilizing a contemporary and advanced system for controlling animal waste.
This is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Project for the Utilization of Hady and Adahi, which has a capacity of more than one million sacrificial sacrifices, he noted.
Saleh Al-Zuwaid, spokesman for the Transport and Logistic Services System during the Hajj season, confirmed that the operational plans for the Mashaer train are proceeding as anticipated. The train has been running for the fourth day, offering easy transportation for pilgrims.
More than 305,000 pilgrims have been taken from Arafat to Muzdalifah over the last 24 hours, including during the Nafrah phase, which began at sundown on Saturday and ended at 12:30 AM on Sunday, according to Al-Zuwaid. Additionally, more than 360,000 pilgrims have been carried from Muzdalifah to Mina.
The Mashaer train's fifth movement began at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, connecting stations such as Arafat 3, Muzdalifah 3, Mina 1, Mina 2, and the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, according to Al-Zuwaid. Over 100,000 travelers have already benefited from this phase, which will continue until sundown on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.
Meanwhile, Al-Zuwaid confirmed that the Haramain High Speed Railway will continue to operate as planned, with over 3,800 trips scheduled over the Hajj season. The plan includes more than 1.6 million seats, and it is expected to achieve its highest operational capacity on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, with 126 trips in one day.
In the aviation sector, the second phase of the operational plan for this year's Hajj will begin, allowing pilgrims to depart through six authorized domestic and international airports, according to Al-Zuwaid, citing the success of the first phase.
He also announced intentions to expand the "Hajj without Bag" initiative, which serviced around 700,000 pilgrims the previous year.
The Saudi Health Ministry's spokesman, Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, described the health and epidemiological situation during the current Hajj season as reassuring. He stated that no severe infections harming public health had been reported among pilgrims.
Meanwhile, he added that there were 2,764 cases of heat stress and sunstroke caused by high temperatures in holy sites and exposure to the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. He underlined that failure to use umbrellas and drink water on a regular basis contributed to these occurrences.
Al-Abdulaali added, The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the affected cases and wishes them a speedy recovery.
