JEDDAH, 26 November 2006 — The Interior Ministry has announced the formation of a new crowd management force in order to prevent pilgrims, street vendors and all types of vehicles from squatting and stopping along streets leading to Jamrat in Mina.

The force will operate during the peak days of Haj as part of efforts to prevent stampedes and ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims. The new force, ordered by Interior Minister Prince Naif who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, will be part of the Haj security arrangements. It is in addition to the emergency force deployed near Jamrat during the Haj season.

The plan to set up a new force for preventing squatting and the selling of goods on roads leading to the Jamrat is significant as such negative practices have been blamed for stampedes that have occurred at Jamrat and which have killed many people.

“The new force will prevent people from waiting on the roads leading to the Jamrat and standing near the pillars at which stones are thrown,” one source said. It will also identify the routes of pilgrims and monitor overcrowding, the source added.

Crowd management at Jamrat has been one of the major challenges facing Saudi Haj organizers as hundreds of thousands of the faithful move simultaneously to carry out the stoning ritual; this often results in overcrowding and stampedes leading to deaths.

The new move emphasizes that the government will show no leniency toward those pilgrims who squat along the streets or street vendors who obstruct the smooth flow of pilgrims.

The government has embarked on an SR4.2 billion high-tech project to facilitate the stoning ritual at Jamrat. The new Jamrat bridge project is being carried out by Saudi Binladin Group and the first phase will be completed before the coming Haj season.

Haj Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said all government departments would work together to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims. “The success of organizing the movement of pilgrims at Jamrat depends on carrying out everything in a balanced manner,” he said and urged pilgrims to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the government.

Dr. Habeeb Zainul Abideen, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said two tunnels called Souk Al-Arab and Al-Jowhara have been completed and will be open for pilgrims this year.

“We have also built a number of new tunnels to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. This will also facilitate emergency operations such as taking sick and injured pilgrims to hospitals.”

“The primary objective of the project is to help facilitate the stoning ritual at Mina without stampedes and other accidents,” the official said.