MAKKAH: As part of its Haj plan, Makkah Municipality has mobilized over 20,000 people as cleaners, environmental health officials, food inspectors and price monitors.
“Support teams from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the police, boy scouts and temporary hygiene observers would join this force to implement the plan throughout the duration of the pilgrimage,” said Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar.
He said the teams in charge of cleaning would work round the clock. “More than 700 cleaners would be working in Makkah alone and 6,000 cleaners in the Holy Sites,” he said, adding that teams have also been set up to deal with emergency situations such as fires and heavy rains.
The mayor said 131 skips and 900 compressed boxes have been set up to collect around 1,500 tons of garbage each day.
He added that a total of 1,100 chairs have been placed in Mina for barbers to trim or shave pilgrims’ hair as part of the Haj rituals.
“Fifty-seven observation centers have also been established to inspect animals entering and leaving slaughterhouses. All animals would be examined by veterinarians before slaughter to ensure they do not carry any diseases,” he said.
“Foodstuffs will be thoroughly checked ... Any rotten or contaminated food would be destroyed on the spot,” Al-Bar said, adding that field teams would also keep an eye on prices round the clock.
“We are ready to welcome the guests of God and we have completed all arrangements to enable them to perform the fifth pillar of Islam in peace and comfort,” the mayor said.
The Ministry of Health will field more than 300 college students in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah after giving them necessary training in order to spread awareness about hygiene among the pilgrims.
