On the eve of this year's haj, Saudi authorities announced that they were ready for the start of this major, global gathering of 2 - 3 million pilgrims which formally gets underway on Wednesday and stretches over a period of five days. Vast changes have been made by Saudi authorities, including a new expansion of the Grand Mosque to accommodate the steadily rising number of pilgrims.
"We have worked round the clock to complete the expansion," Abdulghani, a technician working on the site, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday. The Grand Mosque can accommodate more than one million people, but the hajj authorities have been working to boost its capacity to cope with the steadily rising number of pilgrims.
Work is under way to double the mosque's capacity by adding another 300,000 square meters after King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz agreed two years ago that the northern mosque's esplanades can be expanded. "Thanks to God, we have completed the main phase, which included demolishing houses and buildings at the northern end," said Abdulghani.
"Now the area is ready to install the sunshades." Other competed expansion projects include widening the footpath between the Safa and Marwah that has been turned into a four-level path, allowing a faster flow of pilgrims.
The hajj rites start on Wednesday with the tawaf, the circling seven times of the cubic Kaaba in the centre of the Grand Mosque. The sea of white-clad pilgrims then proceeds to Mina to spend the night before ascending Mount `Arafat on Thursday, November 26. Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj once in their lifetime.
Reassuring
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the medical situation among the pilgrims was reassuring. "The general health condition of all pilgrims is reassuring. There are no other pandemics," he told the English daily Arab News. He said his Ministry has mobilized all resources for the well-being of pilgrims.
"We have taken all precautionary measures to protect pilgrims against swine flu and other diseases under the directives of our leadership and in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization." Al-Rabeeah said 19 well-equipped health centers have been established in Makkah to receive suspected and confirmed swine flu cases.
He added that a special laboratory would be set up in `Arafat to test those who may have caught the virus 9 km away from Makkah. There will also be a 57-bed quarantine section there. The health minister denied more swine flu fatalities. "There are no new deaths among pilgrims because of swine flu beyond the four deaths which were already announced."
According to the minister, a total of 17,609 medial staff consisting of doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators are providing services to pilgrims. The hajj is taking place amid fears of the spread of swine flu, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses. The virus has so far killed around 6,750 people in 191 countries since it first emerged in Mexico in April. ISLAM-ONLINE/VOC |
