In a statement issued at the end of the Civil Defense’s campaign at the holy sites and Makkah on the last day of the pilgrimage, Al-Tuwaijri conveyed Eid greetings and congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, and Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Central Haj Committee.
Al-Tuwaijri said all possible scenarios that might occur during Haj were taken into account.
“Special precautions were taken to handle calamities such as floods, tremors, rock slides, fires, stampedes, radiation and chemical pollution,” the director said.
He added that the 22,000 strong rescue forces equipped with 6,000 pieces of equipment boosted their preparations with 15 mock emergency drills.
Preventive supervisors and safety patrols made 288 rounds and inspection visits to tents, utilities and commercial establishments to ensure safety arrangements, and rectified violations of safety regulations.
The inspectors discovered 308 violations of the ban on liquefied cooking gas in the holy sites. “However they did not result in any accidents,” he said, adding that fire accidents dropped this year considerably compared to past years.
The director concluded his statement by expressing pride over the commitment of Civil Defense personnel to their duties.
In the meantime, Civil Defense forces in Madinah have geared up to monitor the safety of the huge number of pilgrims who have started arriving in the Prophet’s Mosque after the completion of their rites in Makkah and the holy sites.
“In line with the orders of Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, the Civil Defense has taken precautionary steps to counter emergencies. Its units are coordinated and receiving cooperation from other departments,” Director of Madinah Civil Defense Brig. Zuhair Ahmad Sabeeh said.
“As part of precautionary measures, Civil Defense units are inspecting pilgrim accommodations, locations of overcrowding inside and outside the Prophet’s Mosque, and commercial areas to enforce safety measures,” Sabeeh said.
He put the number of Civil Defense personnel in Madinah at 1,400 supported by 314 machines.
He added that safety inspections would continue until all Haj pilgrims return to their countries.
He said 45 permanent units and seven seasonal units in addition to airborne rescue units are working during the season.
Many rescue units have been posted on roads leading to Makkah.
The official urged pilgrims to carefully follow safety regulations, adding that booklets on safety have been distributed in various languages in addition to boards displaying regulations and campaigns on televisions.
