MAKKAH, 18 January 2005 — All 129 doors of the Grand Mosque have been equipped with red and green light signals. If the lights are green, there is available space in the mosque. Red lights mean that the mosque is full to capacity. Fifteen doors will be for the exclusive use of handicapped pilgrims and a number of escalators will also be reserved for use by the handicapped.
Security Briefing
MAKKAH, 18 January 2005 — The director of Haj affairs in the Interior Ministry described the security situation in Makkah as stable and said that nothing unusual had been detected. Addressing a press conference yesterday, the official said he expected the total number of pilgrims to be 2.8 million. The total number of pilgrims arriving from the airports in Madinah and Jeddah will exceed 1.3 million. The total number of Haj permits issued for pilgrims within the Kingdom is 150,000.
South American Pilgrims
MAKKAH, 18 January 2005 — Thirty-four South American pilgrims who are guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques arrived in Makkah yesterday. Twenty-nine pilgrims are from Brazil, three from Peru and one each from Colombia and Paraguay. The pilgrims visited the Holy Mosque Exhibition where they learned about the history of the Holy Mosque.
Charity Meals
MAKKAH, 18 January 2005 — Prince Abdul Majeed, governor of Makkah, has directed the authorities to organize the distribution of charity meals to pilgrims. Yesterday was the last day when food containers were allowed within the holy sites.
