Saudi Arabia announced a death toll of pilgrims on Sunday. Nearly 1,301 pilgrims lost their lives this year due to extreme heat during Hajj. The pilgrimage occurred amidst sweltering conditions, with temperatures exceeding above 51°C. About 1.8 million people took part in this year’s Hajj.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that 83%of the deceased were unauthorized to perform hajj and had walked long distances under direct sunlight without proper shelter or comfort. Most of those who died were elderly or chronically ill.
The Hajj has operated in a hot climate for over a millennium, but the climate crisis is exacerbating these conditions,” said Carl-Friedrich Schleussner of Climate Analytics.
Hajj: Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Health)
Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel described the management of Hajj as “successful”. He mentioned that the health system delivered over 465,000 specialized treatment services, which also includes 141,000 services provided to those who did not have permission to perform Hajj.
“95 unauthorised patients are still receiving medical care, with some airlifted to Riyadh.” the Ministry of Health stated.
Efforts were also made to raise awareness about the dangers of heat stress and educate the pilgrims on effective strategies to manage the challenges caused by extreme heat.
Measures Taken By The Healthcare System
The healthcare system provided approximately 6,500 beds and rooms and developed devices for rapid and effective rescue of affected individuals to combat heat stress.
According to the Ministry of Health, over 30,000 ambulance services were deployed including procedures such as open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterization, dialysis, and emergency care, with 95 air ambulance operations ensuring advanced health services, and over 40,000 medical, technical, administrative staff and volunteers.
Fahad Al-Jalajel offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. “May Allah forgive and have mercy on the deceased.” he said.
The confirmed death toll includes 650 Egyptians, 98 Indians, 32 Indonesians, 60 Jordanians, 53 Tunisians, 35 Pakistanis, 13 Kurds, 11 Iranians, and 3 Senegalese among the fatalities.
What did Pilgrims Say?
Many pilgrims have criticized inadequate lodging and transportation facilities. They have complained about inadequate amenities, poor cooling systems, insufficient transportation, poor ventilation, crowd management, etc.
Significance of Hajj in Islam
Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which also include Shahada (Declaration of Faith), Salah (Prayer), Zakat (Charity), and Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan). It is a religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially capable to undertake this pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
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