Daily Press Conference for Hajj Season 1445 AH

The Ministry of Interior held today its daily press conference for the 1445 AH/2024 AD Hajj season, announcing the successful completion of the transportation of pilgrims within the holy sites as they returned to Mina this morning

 Colonel Talal Al-Shalhoub, Security Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, noted that the pilgrims performed the Tawaf (circumambulation) of Al-Ifadah and the stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqaba safely and peacefully.

 He underlined the continued commitment of the security forces to carry out their duties in maintaining the security and safety of the pilgrims during their stay in Mina, their performance of rituals at the Grand Mosque, and the Jamarat Bridge.

 Al-Shalhoub urged the pilgrims to continue adhering to the instructions that regulate their movements during the Days of Tashriq. This includes following the organized flow and designated directions on the roads leading to the Jamarat Bridge and the Grand Mosque during departure and return.

 He also urged pilgrims to refrain from carrying luggage to the Jamarat Bridge and the Grand Mosque and to maintain calmness and order during their movement.

 Al-Shalhoub urged those hurrying to depart from Mina during the second Day of Tashriq not to leave their camps before the specified times determined by the officials in charge of their service.

 He commended the efforts made by the security sectors, noting 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 varied between security reports, service and general inquiries, all of which were fully addressed.

 Regarding pilgrims movement, Ayed Al-Ghuwaynem, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj Affairs, noted that around 800,000 pilgrims arrived in Mina before dawn today, while the influx of pilgrims continued until 8:30 AM.

 Around 850,000 pilgrims have performed the Tawaf Al-Ifadah so far since midnight, using buses to and from the Grand Mosque through 11 stations in Mina, he said. The trips will continue for 35 hours to transport around 1,350,000 pilgrims.

 Al-Ghuwaynem also reported that the operations related to sacrificial offerings of Hady and Adahi, saying they have been organized according to the highest environmental standards, utilizing a modern and advanced system for managing animal waste.

 This is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Project for Utilization of Hady and Adahi, with a capacity exceeding 1 million sacrificial offerings, he added.

 Saleh Al-Zuwaid, Spokesman of the Transport and Logistic Services System in the Hajj season, clarified that the operational plans for Mashaer train are progressing as planned. The train has been operating for the fourth day, providing convenient transportation services for the pilgrims.

 During the past 24 hours and during the Nafrah phase, which started from sunset on Saturday until 12:30 AM on Sunday, more than 305,000 pilgrims have been transported from Arafat to Muzdalifah, said Al-Zuwaid. Additionally, over 360,000 pilgrims have been transported from Muzdalifah to Mina.

 At 9:00 am on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, the fifth movement of the Mashaer train started, connecting stations such as Arafat 3, Muzdalifah 3, Mina 1, Mina 2, and reaching the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, said Al-Zuwaid. Over 100,000 passengers have benefited from this phase so far, and these movements will continue until sunset on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

 Meanwhile, the Haramain High Speed Railway will continue its operations as planned, which includes over 3,800 trips throughout the entire Hajj season, Al-Zuwaid stated. The plan has provided over 1.6 million seats, and it is expected to reach its peak operational capacity on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, with 126 trips in a single day.

 In the aviation sector, the second phase of the operational plan for this year's Hajj will begin to facilitate the departure of the pilgrims through 6 designated domestic and international airports, Al-Zuwaid said, highlighting the success of the first phase of the plan.

 He also underlined plans for the expansion of the "Hajj without Bag” initiative, which served around 700,000 pilgrims in the previous year.

 Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, Spokesman for the Saudi Health Ministry, described the health and epidemiological situation during the current Hajj season as reassuring. He noted that no significant diseases affecting public health have been recorded among pilgrims.

 Meanwhile, he stated that the cases of heat stress and sunstroke amounted to 2,764 cases due to the high temperatures in the holy sites and exposure to the sun during its peak intensity from 11 am to 4 pm. He emphasized that the failure to adhere to umbrellas or drink water regularly contributed to these cases.

 Al-Abdulaali stated that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the affected cases and wishes them a speedy recovery.