Makkah News and Updates

Saturday, 26 April 2014

RIYADH — The Ministry of Health has reported four new deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and 36 more cases of infection, including a Turkish pilgrim in Makkah, in the past 24 hours.

The new deaths bring to 85 the number of people who have died in the Kingdom from the virus that appeared in 2012. The ministry has so far recorded a total of 297 confirmed cases of infection.

The 65-year-old Turkish pilgrim is among six new cases reported in Makkah.

The ministry said the youngest cases from the newest batch of infections are two 13-year-olds, one in Madinah and the other in Jeddah. A 25-year-old Saudi male is being treated in Jordan.

The ministry reported the four latest Saudi deaths in separate statements: a 45-year-old male health worker in Al-Kharj, a city about 80 km from the capital Riyadh; a 29-year-old male in Jeddah, a 72-year-old woman in Riyadh and a 68-year-old man in Makkah.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140426203132 Saturday 26 April 2014

The Health Ministry launched infection control measures and an awareness campaign here on Thursday to tackle the rising number of deaths caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.

The ministry also provided training for city health workers to deal with the virus at a symposium here.

Officials highlighted ongoing action to analyze how the disease spreads, and discussed using antibiotics to raise the immunity of patients.

A plan is being developed to spread awareness about MERS across the city and through the mass media.

Sami Badawood, director of the Jeddah health department, instructed all health workers to sterilize patient rooms, emergency wards, and medical equipment at hospitals.

Senior doctors Jihad Fadal Bukhari, Naser Al-Jahani and others spoke about preventive measures at the symposium.

Earlier, Muneera Balahmar, a community medicine consultant with the ministry in Jeddah, told Arab News that the program would be run in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

She said the ministry has chosen the Indian Social Forum, a local expatriate body, to conduct the awareness program in the Indian community.

The ministry has already launched its awareness program at schools in Jeddah, said Badawood, which included distributing literature on the virus.

Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director general of the Ministry of Education, said there have been no infections recorded among schoolchildren in Jeddah.

He said the awareness program would allay fears and ensure students adopt better personal hygiene.

Some Saudi citizens are avoiding going to hospitals because they are afraid of becoming infected.

Faras Osama Bana, a Saudi, told Arab News he was sick for two days but did not want to go to a hospital because he was afraid of MERS.

Mohammed Shami Jafri, another Saudi, said he did the same thing when he fell ill.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/561466 Saturday 26 April 2014

Saudi Arabia announced Friday two more deaths from the MERS coronavirus, taking the country’s toll to 87.

A Health Ministry bulletin on the Internet said a total of 299 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome had been detected in the Kingdom since MERS first appeared in September 2012.

Meanwhile, acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih said that the ministry is considering transferring all MERS patients to King Abdullah Medical Complex north of Jeddah, adding that a decision will be announced next week.

During a tour of the complex he said: “I and my colleagues in the ministry have reviewed a number of options including the transfer of all infected patients to the complex. We are assessing the complex capacity and what needs to be done in case we take this step.”

MERS is considered a deadlier but less-transmissible cousin of the SARS virus which erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/561421

Saturday 26 April 2014

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah today celebrates a glorious nine years as leader of Saudi Arabia, marked by unprecedented economic growth and social development, and far-reaching regional and international peace initiatives.

Saudi citizens pledged their allegiance to the King on Jamad Al-Thani 26, 1426, corresponding to Aug. 1, 2005.

The Kingdom’s major achievements under King Abdullah’s leadership include several major economic, social and education projects across the country.

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, commended King Abdullah for his integrity, frankness and nonpartisan approach to international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

“We have seen outstanding achievements benefiting citizens year after year. This includes the enactment of legislation ensuring more stability and prosperity in the country. We have also seen the king take bold and courageous positions on Arab and Muslim issues,” Prince Salman said in a statement.

Prince Salman said the king’s greatest desire is to see citizens united, particularly on issues affecting the country’s security and economic stability. He said this was vital for the country’s progress and development.

Under King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia has become a member of the G20 group of nations, which brings together some of the world’s most economically advanced countries.

Earlier this week, the king received another honor when he was awarded the Sheikh Zayed Book Prize’s Cultural Personality Award for 2014, in recognition of his humanitarian and cultural contributions in the country and abroad.
The king’s vision and wisdom have strengthened the role of Saudi Arabia in the Arab and Islamic world and globally.

Internally, the Kingdom’s major accomplishments in every city and province have promoted unity and cohesion among the people and the country’s leadership.

King Abdullah has established several economic cities, increased the number of universities from eight to almost 40, and opened colleges, technical and health institutes, and faculties of education for females.

He also built the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Princess Noura University for Women.

He has also played a singular important role in making sure women participate in the country’s social, economic, political and cultural life. He ensured that the Shoura Council appointed 30 women as members, and for them to participate in the upcoming municipal council elections for the first time in the Kingdom’s history.

Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier and advisor to the King, said King Abdullah’s love for citizens has been expressed in his orders for provincial governors to find quick solutions for any complaints filed by them.

President of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais congratulated the King for his significant support to expand the two holy mosques and the holy sites, for Umrah and Haj pilgrims.

Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah congratulated the king and praised him for always being concerned about the rights and welfare of Saudi citizens.

Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif said that the King’s foresight and wisdom has seen the Kingdom take major strides in the region, Arab world, and across the globe.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, praised the King for his devotion to citizens and his tireless efforts to maintain stability in the country.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal underlined several efforts launched by King Abdullah to provide aid to the oppressed Syrian people, restore the rights of the Palestinians, and initiatives to boost the progress and development of Muslim countries and communities across the world. Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal commended the king for developing the country. This includes his efforts in education such as the King Abdullah Project for General Education Development (Tatweer), aimed at the intellectual enhancement of students.

Joseph Westphal, US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, expressed his warmest congratulations and best wishes to King Abdullah.

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate King Abdullah and the Saudi people on this wonderful and joyous occasion,” he said.

“Under King Abdullah’s leadership, the enduring and strategic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia have continued to deepen. Our two nations are working together to confront regional challenges such as Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Yemen, even as we pursue Middle East peace.”

“Both of our nations act to bring stability to global energy markets. And we welcome the tens of thousands of young Saudis studying in the US. We commend King Abdullah for his far-sighted leadership and look forward to continuing our cooperation for the benefit of both the American and Saudi people.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/561426 Saturday, 26 April 2014


Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who ascended the throne in August 2005, has played a remarkable role in taking the Kingdom into the elite club of world nations. King Abdullah has been instrumental in enabling the Kingdom to record marvelous and magnificent achievements in all walks of life. The King’s statesmanship, farsightedness and dynamic leadership qualities have earned him global respect and thus becoming one of the world’s most influential leaders.

King Abdullah has spearheaded an unstoppable march of development and reforms with a human face. One can see every day something new that could be recorded in his achievements. In the glorious years of his rule, the King’s top concern is the welfare and well-being of his people. While framing the Kingdom’s development plans, he gave foremost priority to citizens and the core of all his reforms is moderation and balanced development of all regions.

In all his words and directives to officials, Abu Miteb emphasized the point “Citizen is first.” He underscored the significance of investing in citizens through implementing projects aimed at developing human resources, and taking decisions aimed at fulfilling their requirements and achieving their welfare in all the vital sectors, including health, education, and housing.

Under the leadership of King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia is now in the forefront of countries that give more focus on education and healthcare through pumping billions of riyals for new universities and medical cities. Education and healthcare continue to remain the key areas of government spending, accounting for 38 percent of total spending in the current fiscal year’s budget. It also gave top priority to meet the housing requirements of citizens with allocation of SR250 billion to construct 500,000 new housing units in different parts of the Kingdom, in addition to raising the capital of Real Estate Development Fund. All these initiatives are aimed at ensuring a prosperous and glorious future for the citizens, especially the younger generation.

Women’s empowerment is one of the major highlights of the King’s political reforms. As part of a bold initiative to ensure women’s participation in the decision-making process, 30 women have been nominated to the Shoura Council, in addition to granting women the right to vote and run as candidates in local elections.

King Abdullah’s another major contribution is to make available of the best ever services and facilities for the Haj and Umrah pilgrims. The King has ordered the largest ever expansion in the history of the two holy mosques. With the completion of the ongoing expansion project costing SR100 billion, the Grand Mosque in Makkah will double its space with a capacity to accommodate two million worshippers.

Education is key to progress

Under King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia is witnessing unprecedented development in the education sector. The King has given top priority to the Kingdom’s educational and technological advancement. He issued directives and took landmark decisions to concentrate on developing people of the country and creating a promising generation who possess skills and capabilities to lead the country to a bright future. These decisions included expansion of educational projects and setting up of universities in almost all major cities. Nine years ago, there were only nine universities in the Kingdom. Now, the numbers have shot up to 28 government universities and five private ones. Earlier this month, the King ordered setting up of three new universities in North Jeddah, Bisha and Hafar Al-Batin. Apart from these, hundreds of new colleges and institutes have also been established. All these were instrumental in developing the potential and talents of the younger generation so as to enable them to play a creative role in the nation building process.

In 2005, the King launched the foreign scholarship program to send Saudi students to reputable universities around the world. More than 200,000 Saudis have so far been benefited from the program. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, near Jeddah was a major contribution by the King. After realizing the role of human resources development in the nation’s growth and development, the King took initiative to set aside the highest percentage of budgetary allocations for education.

In the budget for 2014, the education sector has won about one-fourth of the total allocations. Out of the total expenditure, amounting to SR855 billion, the allocation for education and training was SR210 billion, a three percent increase compared with an all-time high of 21 percent last year. In education and training, there has been a renewed focus on meeting the growing requirements of the employment market for qualified hands in various sectors over the coming years.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia has entered the elite club of 21 nations possessing all the essential components of e-readiness that enable a nation to offer an effective e-government and empower it further to render all types of e-services for public and private sectors. An open university has also been started and its focus is mainly on e-education and distant education. All these emphasize the vision of a wise ruler that citizen is the first to develop and that the best investment is in human resources.

Health is wealth

King Abdullah shouldered a big task of making the Kingdom’s health sector one of the premier sectors providing top quality services and facilities to ensure healthy living of citizens. A large number of Saudi young men and women have been sent abroad for higher studies in various medical specialties by taking advantage of the King’s foreign scholarship program. The King also ordered setting up of a number of medical cities, including King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, King Faisal Medical City in Abha, Prince Muhammad Medical City in Sakaka and King Khaled Medical City in Dammam. A large number of hospital and medical center projects have either been implemented or under various phases of implementation in various regions of the Kingdom.

Economic boom

Saudi Arabia is witnessing unprecedented economic boom and robust growth under King Abdullah. Within a short span of nine years, the King has led the nation to become one of the major global economic powers with a membership in G20 and other blocs. According to the report of the International Monetary Fund in 2013, Kingdom ranked 10 among G20 countries in terms of per capita GDP and is expected to occupy the rank of nine within the coming five years.

The King is always keen to achieve balanced development of all regions such that the benefits of prosperity reach all sections of people. There are four economic cities, which are under various phases of implementation, and they would bring in more prosperity by attracting huge domestic and foreign investments and create jobs for hundreds of thousands of Saudis.

Public transport and Landbridge

Under the King, Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable achievements in the transport and communications sector. The most important among them is the public transport system, especially the railway projects. The government has awarded contracts worth $22.5 billion to three consortia to carry out designing and construction works of Riyadh metro network. The consortia consist of giant companies, which are leading manufacturers and builders of rail networks and trains in the world. The gigantic project is expected to be completed within five years.

Similar is the case with the public transport system in the major cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Works of the Haramain Rail, which connect Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah, are progressing well and the ambitious project is due to complete by the end of 2015. The Landbridge project is one of the biggest in the region with an estimated investment of $7 billion, and involves construction of 950km of new rail road between Riyadh and Jeddah and another 115 km track between Dammam and Jubail. Apart from this, works are under way for the North South Railway, which is a 2,400km passenger and freight rail line that will further boost the Kingdom’s economic prosperity, in addition to passenger traffic.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140426203129

 

Site of Prophet’s birth to be preserved
within expanded Haram plaza

Sunday, 27 April 2014

MADINAH — Hotel owners and tourism officials are demanding accident insurance for Umrah visitors, who they say are prone to fire disasters and other accidents while staying at hotels in the city, Al-Hayat daily reported.

They said while insurance is mandatory for car owners, it is not a requirement for Umrah pilgrims, who are more vulnerable to accidents such as hotel fires and building collapses.

They believe insuring Umrah pilgrims and visitors is very important because hotel accidents usually are catastrophic and result in many casualties.

A fire that engulfed a hotel in Madinah last February resulted in the death of 15 Umrah visitors and injuries to around 130 others. The accident has raised the question of responsibility to compensate the victims' families.

The head of the tourism committee at Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Abdulghani Al-Ansari, said it has become necessary to insure Umrah pilgrims, especially since hotel accidents resulting in heavy loss of lives have become common.

"It is awkward that car insurance is mandatory while it is not for Umrah visitors, who represent a larger vulnerable group than the cars drivers," he said.

He believes that the families of the victims of the recent hotel fire in Madinah should be compensated because there was a lack of monitoring of safety measures.

He pointed out that there are more than 245 hotels in Madinah that are applying safety measures according to Civil Defense requirements, but the problem lies in the hotels preparedness to deal with disasters.

Al-Ansari added that it is a joint responsibility between the government and the private sector.

He noted that the problem is not equipping hotels with the required safety measures, but it lies with the continuous monitoring of these measures and training hotel staff to use these safety means.

"Most hotels do not implement preventive safety measures. They should be required to hold evacuation drills once or twice a year and to train the staff on the proper use of safety means," he added.

Al-Ansari believes that hotels should be linked to the Civil Defense in a similar manner banks are linked, so that any fire or other accidents are immediately reported to the control room.

He said periodic inspection of safety measures should be held at least twice a year, before the Haj season and the Umrah season in addition to equipping the central area with cameras to monitor accidents.

Mohammad Badr, a member of the tourism committee, concurred. He said hotels in Europe require insurance of visitors, which will contribute to compensating the victims' families and alleviating their grief.

He explained that all hotels in Madinah's central area cannot operate without meeting the Civil Defense safety requirements and that many Umrah visitors lack the necessary safety awareness, as many carry with them electrical equipment that can cause fires.

Marwan Hefzi, another member of the tourism committee, said the High Commission for the Development of Madinah has stipulated excellent safety measures before hotels can operate.

He noted that the recent fire in a Madinah hotel was the result of negligence by the hotel owner as well as by Civil Defense personnel who neglected to carry out period inspection of safety measures within the property.

Hefzi pointed out that if the hotel owner's negligence is proved, he should bear the responsibility of paying compensation to the victims' relatives.

Hefzi, however, said he was against insuring Umrah visitors because it would increase costs of travel, which many of them simply cannot afford. “This will result in a drop in the number of Umrah visitors, since around 80 percent of them cannot pay the high costs of such insurance," he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140427203228

Monday 28 April 2014

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims of different nationalities arrive in the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Arab News met Jordanian pilgrim Abdul Rahman Mahmoud, 50, on Saturday while he was taking a stroll in the spacious courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque, engrossed in the spiritual aura of the location.

“I have visited the Kingdom a number of times to perform the Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah). Each time I visit here, I find the Kingdom making fast developments, particularly in the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah,” Mahmoud said.

The pilgrim said he particularly noticed the changing features of the Prophet’s Mosque with solar umbrellas fitted with fans in the courtyards in addition to the luxury hotels built close to the mosque.

“I am flooded by a sense of joy when I step onto the land of the Two Holy Mosques for Umrah. We are warmly received at the entry points by our brotherly passport officers and other officials manning the entry points,” he said.

He was all praise for the efforts made by the Saudi officials for their reception and quick disposal of entry or exit formalities. He also hailed the huge expansion works being undertaken at the Prophet’s Mosque.

Commenting on the journey’s expenses, Abdul Rahman Mahmoud said the cost of a 12-day Umrah package for a family is 500 Jordanian dinars. It also covers the cost of transport and lodging regardless of how near it is to the mosque in Madinah, he said.

He thanked the Saudi government for the efforts it was making in the service of the Two Holy Mosques and to facilitate Umrah pilgrims and visitors.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/562381

Monday 28 April 2014

The death toll from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the Kingdom reached 102 on Sunday with 10 new deaths during the past 24 hours as authorities scrambled to reassure an increasingly edgy population.

Public fears have been fueled by a rapid rise in the number of fatalities from the deadly coronavirus, with 39 people dying this month, almost a third of the 102 deaths registered since the virus emerged in April 2012.

The Health Ministry said 10 new deaths occurred during the past 24 hours while 16 new confirmed cases have been reported in Jeddah (8), Tabuk (6) and Riyadh (2).

The new fatalities included a nine-month-old Saudi child Riyadh, a 65-year-old Saudi woman, a 61-year-old Indonesian woman, and a 55-year-old Saudi man in Jeddah in addition to three new deaths (all Saudis) in Riyadh and one (an expat) in Jeddah.

Newly confirmed cases include three doctors (Saudi, Egyptian and Syrian) and six Filipino nurses.

A 63-year-old woman, who had also suffered chronic illness, died of MERS on Saturday in Jeddah, and a 78-year-old man died in Riyadh, the Health Ministry said.

It said the total number of cases diagnosed since the virus was first recorded in the Kingdom has reached 339, representing the bulk of infections registered globally.

The ministry has set up fourth specialized medical center in Najran following three in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.

Labor Minister and Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih has instructed the health departments in the Kingdom to allocate one hospital for the treatment of MERS cases. In Najran, they have identified King Khaled Hospital for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Khaled Al-Faisal urged school authorities to take precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading. He said no MERS cases have been reported among schools across the Kingdom.

The number of Saudis and expats visiting hospitals has declined, following reports of MERS deaths among doctors and nurses.

“I’ve decided to keep my six-year-old daughter at home and not send her to school,” said Umm Muntaha. “Prevention is better than cure,” she maintained.

A. Aziz, an Indian expat, has also stopped sending his son to school. “It’s safe this way. I don’t want to take any chances,” he said.

Schools remain open despite rumors of possible closures, but many have asked parents to equip their children with masks and disinfectants.

The ministry has not taken any “additional precautions” at airports apart from the “usual preventive measures,” a ministry official said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/562426 Tuesday 29 April 2014

Sales of antibiotics, face masks and vitamins have doubled at local pharmacies because of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the Kingdom, pharmacists said here on Monday.

Fahad Batterjee, a member of the pharmacies committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there has been a 100 percent increase in the sales of these items.

He warned about the emergence of a black market for these products.

Siraj Abed, vice president of the Pharmacists Club in Jeddah, said these products are being purchased mostly by the elderly, pregnant women, and people with allergies and asthma.

He said these items usually constitute only 10 percent of a pharmacy’s stock, but have now become the most in-demand products.

Abed said it was unlikely that a black market would be created for these items because they are widely available at pharmacies, retail outlets and local markets.

He said most of these products are produced in Asian countries and have been checked out by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).

Bandar Riyad, a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company specializing in preventive medical supplies in Jeddah, confirmed that there has been rising demand from the private and public sectors.

He said there was a shortage of up to 30 percent for some products, but pharmaceutical companies in Saudi Arabia have the capacity to cover any requests.

Tariq Al-Nahdi, the owner of the Al-Nahdi pharmacy chain in the Kingdom, confirmed in a statement on Monday that there has been high demand for these products, which reflects the precautions Jeddah residents are taking to counter MERS.

The Saudi drugs market is worth SR11 billion, with about SR7 billion coming from imports. The country’s western region makes up 45 percent of the market, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/562926