“Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif
has approved our Haj plan,” said Lt. Gen. Saad bin Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri,
director general of the department.
“The Civil Defense’s general Haj plan aims to take all
precautions for the safety and protection of pilgrims and citizens from
accidents and catastrophes as well as safeguard public and private
properties, in coordination with related departments,” he said.
Al-Tuwaijri said his officers would conduct 12 drills on
tackling possible dangerous situations during the Haj season. “Our officers
will also take into consideration possible dangers other than what had occurred
in the past Haj seasons,” he said.
The department will have more than 450 centers in Makkah and
other holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.
Al-Tuwaijri commended the government’s efforts to ensure the
security and safety of some 2.5 million pilgrims by mobilizing its human and
material resources. “Managing these huge numbers of pilgrims with different
educational and cultural backgrounds and speaking different languages is not an
easy task,” he said.
He urged all Civil Defense officers taking part in this
year’s Haj operation to be aware of their great responsibility. “You are doing
a great job to ensure the security and safety of the guests of God and help
them perform their religious duty,” he said and urged them to exert maximum efforts
in the service of pilgrims.
The Haj is expected to start on Nov. 4 and more than a
million pilgrims have already arrived from abroad to take part in the annual
event.
National carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines said it would
operate 1,244 flights to bring in pilgrims from different parts of the world
and 1,153 flights to fly them back to their home countries after Haj.
“All Saudia departments and strategic units are working full
swing to extend the best possible services to pilgrims,” said Abdullah Al-Ajhar,
vice president of public relations. “We have rented 34 aircraft to support our
fleet for the huge Haj operation,” he added.
The Saudi Arabian Scouts Society said it would send more
than 3,000 scouts on Haj service. “We have set up camps in Makkah and holy
sites, which are provided with medical and health facilities,” said Saleh
Al-Harbi, commander of the camps.
He said the scouts would help patients and stranded
pilgrims, and support the municipality to monitor the rise in prices of
essential commodities. The society will have camps in Madinah and land and sea
entry points.
