MAKKAH, 10 December 2007 — To deal with any problems during Haj at the Grand Mosque or the holy sites (Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah), the Saudi Civil Defense has prepared thousands of rescue workers, a fleet of helicopters, trucks, ambulances and even dinghies in the event of possible flooding, according to a top official of Civil Defense.
“A 12,000-strong Civil Defense force is ready with 10 helicopters, 3,000 heavy machines and the latest safety equipment in order to offer maximum safety to Haj pilgrims this year,” director of Civil Defense, Lt. Gen. Saad ibn Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, told Arab News yesterday.
“The helicopters will airlift critically ill pilgrims from the holy sites and Makkah besides making reconnaissance flights above areas which require special attention. The helicopters will also observe the situation on the Makkah-Madinah expressway,” Al-Tuwaijri said.
The director said the holy sites had been divided into a number of Civil Defense zones with independent commands so as to facilitate rapid intervention in emergencies.
Al-Tuwaijri also stressed the importance of continuing the awareness campaigns for the pilgrims so that they can cooperate in following safety regulations. The campaign involves display boards at strategic points, huge television screens, radio and television broadcasts and printed publications in dozens of languages in addition to film shows. Modern multimedia devices such as the Bluetooth system cover the holy sites. Announcements in different languages on loud speakers in the area of the holy sites will also help inform people about the required safety procedures on particular occasions.
The campaigns also include text messaging in collaboration with the Ministry of Haj and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj Research, the general said.
As a precautionary measure against natural calamities such as flood or fire, the Civil Defense has constructed rescue shelters at Moaysem which can accommodate about 10,000 pilgrims. The shelters in Arafat have a capacity to shelter 11,000 pilgrims while the Muzdalifah shelters can house 30,000. Clothes and foods have been stocked in these shelters, which are equipped with health care facilities as well. The arrangements are also in place for emergency evacuation, the director said.
Commenting on the fear that because of ongoing expansion works at the Masaa (the track for the quick walk between Safa and Marwah), crowd-related issues will be more acute at the Safa-Marwah area than at the Jamrat bridges this year, the Civil Defense official said. His department and other agencies responsible for crowd management have made special plans to guarantee the safety of pilgrims.
“We have installed surveillance cameras and set up observation posts at key locations in order to have nonstop reports about the situation there. The defense personnel are battle-ready to spring into action any time, day or night,” he said.
The general reiterated that the Civil Defense was prepared to face any eventuality such as heavy rains and flash floods. “A detailed plan to counter torrential rains and floods has been made. Duties have been assigned to various action teams, which would go into action the moment they receive a flood warning from the meteorological department,” he said.
The official also stressed the importance of the massive drainage projects built by the government with the aim of keeping the holy sites free from water. There were also dinghies and divers ready to act should the need arise, he said.
Referring to gas cookers as a major source of fire hazards at the holy sites, Al-Tuwaijri said, “Everyone knows that the use of gas at the holy sites is a flagrant violation of the government’s orders. The Civil Defense strives to enforce the order by sending out patrols to discover pilgrims who cook with gas stoves. To help pilgrims who want to cook themselves, the authorities have set up a central kitchen for the common use of pilgrims. There are 200 small kitchens in the first phase of the central kitchen,” he said.
“Every Haj is an occasion for the Civil Defense to review its performance and learn new lessons which help improve its style of functioning in the next season,” Al-Tuwaijri noted.
