MADINAH, 21 September 2006 — Authorities in Madinah have finished their final preparations to receive more than 800,000 pilgrims and visitors to the holy city in Ramadan.
Officials said there would be strict supervision on restaurants to ensure safety for pilgrims from food poisoning. Inspection teams from the municipality will be working around the clock and will crack down on street vendors. They will also monitor local markets to ensure proper codes are enforced.
“Our department will be ready to provide all services for visitors and give them the help they need,” said the city’s police chief Gen. Ahmad Al-Raddadi.
Saad Al-Muhanna, manager of the Saudi Red Crescent in Madinah, said that the organization would open seasonal centers and increase the number of workers. He said that all of the centers would be working around the clock during the month of fasting when there is an increased influx of pilgrims to the city.
Madinah Health Affairs Director Dr. Sahal Al-Salama said that state health officials are also setting up mobile clinics.
Col. Nashmi Al-Hujaili, from the police department, said an increased number of officers would be deployed in the Prophet’s Mosque complex to participate in crowd control and help ensure safe passage.
The director of the Haj Ministry branch in Madinah, Hasan Bakri, said that his department would monitor the number of visitors to ensure that adequate, safe housing is available.
