- writer, Thomas Spender
- Function, BBC Information
Saudi Arabia says at the least 1,301 folks died throughout the Hajj, most of them unauthorized pilgrims who walked lengthy distances in excessive warmth.
This yr’s Hajj was carried out throughout a heatwave, with temperatures at instances exceeding 50 levels Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
The official Saudi Press Company stated that greater than three-quarters of those that died didn’t have official permits to be there, and walked beneath direct daylight with out correct shelter.
The company added that a few of those that died had been aged or affected by continual illnesses.
Well being Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel stated that efforts have been made to boost consciousness concerning the risks of warmth stress and the way pilgrims can mitigate it.
He added that well being services handled practically half 1,000,000 pilgrims, together with greater than 140,000 who would not have a allow, and a few of whom are nonetheless in hospital because of warmth exhaustion.
He stated, “Might God forgive and have mercy on the deceased. Our heartfelt condolences to their households.”
Saudi Arabia has been criticized for not doing extra to make the Hajj safer, particularly for unregistered pilgrims who would not have entry to services akin to air-conditioned tents and official Hajj transport.
Temperatures in Mecca rose to 51.8 levels Celsius, based on the Nationwide Heart of Meteorology within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nations around the globe are offering updates on what number of of their residents have died, however Saudi Arabia had not publicly commented on the deaths or supplied an official toll as of Sunday.
The French information company quoted an Arab diplomat as saying that 658 Egyptians had been killed. Indonesia stated greater than 200 of its residents had been killed, whereas India stated the loss of life toll was 98 folks.
Pakistan, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Sudan and the autonomous area of Iraqi Kurdistan additionally confirmed deaths.
Hajj is the annual pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims to the holy metropolis of Mecca. All financially and bodily succesful Muslims should carry out the Hajj at the least as soon as of their lives.
Saudi Arabia stated that about 1.8 million folks participated this yr.
The variety of deaths has elevated, particularly these associated to unauthorized pilgrims.
On Saturday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stripped 16 tourism corporations of their licenses and referred their managers to prosecution on costs of permitting unlawful pilgrimages to Mecca.
Jordan stated on Friday that it had arrested quite a lot of journey brokers who facilitated unofficial journey for Muslim pilgrims to Mecca. In the meantime, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the Minister of Non secular Affairs.
Hajj permits are allotted to nations based mostly on a quota system and distributed to people by lottery.
Nonetheless, the prices concerned immediate many to attempt to take part with out a allow, though they threat arrest and deportation if caught.
Earlier than the Hajj season, Saudi authorities stated they’d deported lots of of hundreds of unauthorized pilgrims from Mecca.
