MAKKAH, 28 December 2006 — Commander of the Civil Defense for Haj Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Amr said yesterday that this year’s safety arrangements are superior to the past years.

“The preparations this year differ from last year’s in the sense that they are updated on the basis of past experience,” he said. “We made plans after considering the changes at the Jamrat Bridge and the surrounding squares.”

Al-Amr stressed the need for ending the practice of squatting on the roads at Mina, which he considered as a major obstacle to deploying emergency response personnel.

Al-Amr also warned about the fire hazard posed by those who smuggle in gas cylinders to the holy sites. He said the use of gas at the holy sites has been banned by a royal order. “Those who violate the royal order will be liable to punitive measures,” he said.

The Civil Defense commander said that elaborate preparations have been made to rescue people in the event of heavy rainfalls and flood situations. “The Civil Defense has links with the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection to receive hourly weather reports which will be passed on to other agencies as well,” he said.

“On the appearance of the indications of heavy downpour all the tawafa organizations (official Haj tour operators) will be asked to get ready for evacuation operations and if rains become torrential all civil defense personnel would be ordered to focus their attention on likely danger spots. “Simultaneously fleets of buses will be made ready in the event of flooding, and the pilgrims will be evacuated either to Makkah or to the special shelters built for this purpose,” he said.

Al-Amr dispelled worries expressed by some people about the risk of loose rocks sliding down the Mina hills on to the pilgrim camps in the valley. The geologists working with the Civil Defense have examined the surrounding hills and have set up all the safety measures to make the pilgrims safe, he said.

The official said more than 12,000 Civil Defense officials have been kept ready to serve the huge number of pilgrims at the holy sites. Helicopters will be making reconnaissance flights to watch out for any emergency situations.