JEDDAH, 11 February 2003 — Saudi authorities have turned back more than 50,000 Saudi and expatriate pilgrims from entry points on Sunday for not carrying valid Haj permits, an official source at the Haj Ministry told Arab News.
“All pilgrims who failed to produce Haj permits have been denied entry to Makkah,” the source said. Some pilgrims complained that there were no domestic pilgrim agents in their towns to apply for Haj permits. But the ministry official said pilgrim agents are available in all major cities. (AN)
Water supply disrupted
MINA, 11 February 2003 — Disruption of water supply in Mina for several hours put Tawafa organizations in a difficult situation on Sunday, Al-Madinah reported yesterday. Water supply was cut for pilgrim tents between Jowhara Street and the Pedestrian Bridge and between Souk Al-Arab Street and the New Street, the paper said. The pilgrims held the Water Ministry’s office in Makkah responsible for the problem. They said the Makkah office of the ministry ignored their request to find a quick solution the problem, which was finally solved when Deputy Haj Minister Hatem Qadi intervened.
30 gas cylinders seized
MINA, 11 February 2003 — The Civil Defense Department seized 30 gas cylinders from the holy sites, according to Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijeri, director general of the department. The gas cylinders, which are prohibited in the holy sites, were confiscated from individual pilgrims, Al-Madinah reported. Tuwaijeri urged all pilgrims to follow the government’s safety instructions.
