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Mina, Dhu-AlHijjah 6, 1432, Nov 2, 2011, SPA
Saudi Press Agency "SPA" conveys the great story of Hajj through the transmission of hundreds of news, interviews and media and analytical reports and has trained its professional staff in both editing and photography.
SPA provides a clear description of the essence of the people of this country reporting the successes of the memorable days in the holy sites, and illustrating the tremendous achievements in this field which extends previous successes.
The Lenses of "SPA" cover movements of pilgrims around the clock. "SPA" has mobilized human and technical capacities to serve the pilgrims through timely news coverage of the pilgrimage.
In this regard, Director General of Saudi Press Agency Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Hussein attributed the sound work by "SPA" to care and follow up by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja and Prince Turki bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information for Media Affairs.
SPA broadcasts news, reports, information and images of the pilgrimage season in an integrated manner through publications in three languages ??(Arabic, English and French), and on its website www.spa.gov.sa allowing media delegations to participate in the coverage of the Hajj through accessing computers in media centers prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Information in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites.
Civil Defense makes virtual experience on decontaminating
Jamarat facilities from hazardous materials (SPA) 6/12/1432H
2 November 2011
MAKKAH — Adalet Gigek sat impatiently in a crowded hotel lobby, waiting for the minibus to take her to the Grand Mosque for noon prayers.
She has spent five years hoping for the chance to fulfill her duty as a Muslim by performing Haj and knows she will only be allowed again after five more years because pilgrim numbers are strictly controlled to prevent overcrowding.
“Each year for the past five years I checked with the authorities,” said the 66-year-old mother of eight, a rosy pink scarf framing her beaming face. “When I finally found out I was selected I soared with happiness.”
As one of Islam’s five pillars, the Haj is enjoined on all Muslims who are physically and financially able to carry it out.
Home to Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia bears the responsibility of maintaining a peaceful Haj season when Muslims from various corners of the world gather at the same place and time.
Although Haj starts on the eighth day of the lunar month of Dhul Hijjah, which falls this year on Friday, Nov. 4, most pilgrims come earlier to visit the holy mosques in Makkah and Madina.
Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Makkah region so far.
In a turbulent year for the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has been keen to maintain peace and security.
“Allah did not intend Haj to be a place for dispute, haggling... or using it for political agendas or preaching grim sectarianism,” the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Shaikh, said last week.
The Saudi authorities have lavished vast sums to expand the main Haj sites and improve Makkah’s transportation system.
The Grand Mosque carries the most religious significance. An expansion project will raise the mosque’s capacity to allow it to hold two million pilgrims and install pedestrian bridges.
The area of Makkah around the Grand Mosque is also being transformed, as high-rise buildings are put up to cater for the large influx of visitors.
This month, pilgrims will have full access to a $1.8 billion railway, which was launched at only 30 percent of its capacity last year, to ease pilgrim transport between holy sites around Makkah.
Gigek, the Turkish pilgrim, is relishing an opportunity that has cost her more than 2,700 euros ($3,800) as well as her long wait.
“Many are still waiting for their chance,” she said.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111102111561
Scouts Issued Guide Manual for Mina and Arafat (SPA) 6/12/1432H
102 Scout Groups Will Start Guiding Works tomorrow at Mina (SPA)6/12/1432H
Mina, Outskirts of Makkah, Dhu-AlHijjah 6, 1432, Nov 2, 2011, SPA
Al-Mashair Train, connecting Hajj different holy sites, is set to make its debut at midnight, with its full capacity to commute 73,000 passenger per hour.
The train will shuttle between Mina, Arafat via Muzdalifah to commute 500,000 passenger in six hours in addition to commute 1 million pilgrims during three-day Tashreeq ritual that falls immediately after Eid.
03 November 2011 - 07 Thul-Hijjah 1432 H
MAKKAH – Pilgrims will start moving to the tent city of Mina Thursday evening in preparation for Haj, which culminates with the standing on Arafat, Saturday.
All arrangements have been completed in Mina, which is expected to receive more than 2.5 million pilgrims this year. More than 1.7 million pilgrims have arrived from abroad, out of an expected 1.8 million, in addition to between 700,000 and 800,000 coming from within the Kingdom.
Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, said Tuesday that the Kingdom would use “all means” to ensure a peaceful pilgrimage.
“We are ready to face all events, whatever they are ... our means are peaceful ... except for those who want to create mischief, whom we will prevent with all means,” the Crown Prince told a news conference in Makkah after an inspection tour to the holy sites wherein he reviewed security and other arrangements for pilgrims.
The General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has forecast fine and dry weather in Makkah and the holy sites for most of the Haj. There is unlikely to be heavy rain and flash floods.
Dr. Saad Al-Mehlifi, Assistant President of the PME, said that there are no indications of extraordinary weather conditions at this stage. The skies will be clear but there is a possibility of cloud formation and light rain in Taif and parts of the holy sites during the days of Tashreeq.
The highest average temperature will likely be between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius and the lowest average will be between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius. The speed of the surface winds will be between 15 and 30 kilometers per hour.
This month, pilgrims will have full access to a $1.8 billion railway, which was launched at only 30 percent of its capacity last year, to ease pilgrim transport between the holy sites.
The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has granted an operating and safety license to the Mashair Train, which transports Haj pilgrims between Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina. The Mashair Train, which will operate at full capacity during this year’s Haj season, will transport 72,000 pilgrims per hour, the world’s highest train capacity.
Meanwhile, the Emergency and Field Medicine Committee of the Ministry of Health has prepared 135 ambulances supported by 350 doctors and technicians to provide the best medical services for pilgrims in the holy sites.
Dr. Tariq Bin Salim Al-Arnoos, Director General of the Emergency Department of the Ministry of Health and the Committee’s Chairman, said that the workforce has completed arrangements at emergency centers at Jamarat Bridge, noting that there are 17 emergency centers that are provided with 130 doctors and nurses to work round-the-clock.
Over 80 mini-ambulances equipped as mobile intensive care units will treat pilgrims in the holy sites.
These emergency and field medicine ambulances will act as intensive care units to treat injured persons and transport them to hospitals. The mini-ambulances can reach crowded areas rapidly and could save many lives in the event of a stampede.
There are also five regular ambulances to transport patients from health centers and hospitals in Makkah. The holy sites are staffed with 350 doctors and technicians who are trained to respond to emergencies speedily.
Dr. Al-Arnoos said that emergency sections in Makkah and other holy sites hospitals are ready and the staff is fully trained.
Altogether Haj security plans have detailed 40 sorting locations for medical evacuation at Jamarat Bridge.
These include six buildings in the “experimental housing” project, tent camps in Al-Mu’aissim, Arafat, and Muzdalifa and 33 seasonal units leading into Makkah.
“We are ready to cope with all probable hazards including that of flood. Monitoring systems, data processing and Geographic Information Systems will be used to analyze all potential threats,” said Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, Director of Civil Defense in Makkah region.
Security forces have started the implementation of the Haj traffic plan to facilitate the movement of pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites. More than 17,000 traffic personnel supported by 2,400 vehicles have been deployed in the holy sites.
Assistant Commander of Haj Security Forces for Traffic Affairs Major General Suleiman Bin Abdulrahman Al-Ajlan said the third phase of the shuttle transport has been implemented this year.
He said Iranian pilgrims will be transported by 1,200 buses and non-Arab African pilgrims will be transported by 1,750 buses. Vehicles with a capacity of less than 25 passengers have been banned from transporting pilgrims.
Haj workers to be monitored
The Control and Investigation Board (CIB) has formed field teams to monitor the performance and discipline of government employees working in Haj, informed sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Wednesday.
The field teams have already started carrying out inspections and are expected to file reports to officials concerned.
Meanwhile, the CIB teams are looking into a complaint against a Tawafa establishment. The complaint was lodged by the mutawwif Ghalib Mustafa accusing the Board of Directors of the Tawafa establishment of subletting parts of the camps handed to it by the Ministry of Haj to other pilgrims.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111103111619
Thursday, 03 November 2011 - 07 Thul-Hijjah 1432 H
RIYADH — British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reviewed in a report aired this week the facilities provided by the Kingdom to pilgrims.
It said that the Kingdom works annually to remove any difficulty faced by pilgrims and the accomplishment of Haj rituals has become much easier than it was in the past.
A report by Ahmad Maher of the BBC in Makkah highlighted the most important facilities provided by the Kingdom to pilgrims this year.
The BBC considered the Mashair Train as one of the most significant facilities for pilgrims.
Meanwhile, in its editorial, prestigious Spanish daily El Mundo hailed the services accorded to pilgrims by the government of the Kingdom. The newspaper also praised facilities and amenities made available to pilgrims in the Kingdom.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111103111626
03 November 2011 - 07 Thul-Hijjah 1432 H
LONDON — Different segments of society have expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Dawud Burbank and his wife Khalida Begum Dost who lost their lives when their bus caught fire on its way to Makkah on Monday.
The two were traveling with other passengers, who escaped without serious injury.
The Society of British Muslims said the community had been “moved” by the couple’s death.
The bus was in the outskirts of Jeddah when it caught fire.
The British embassy in Riyadh said the fire was not being treated as suspicious as it was thought the engine had overheated.
The driver managed to stop the bus and most passengers escaped unharmed.
Burbank, 49, was an academic researcher and had translated hundreds of religious texts from Arabic into English.
The Association of British Hujjaj (ABH), a national Haj and Umrah specific organization in the UK, and its patron, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, expressed deepest sorrow and sadness at the death of the two pilgrims.
“We would like to convey our condolence to the deceased’s families, friends and relatives and deepest sympathies to all those who suffered from this trauma,” said Khalid Pervez, General Secretary of the ABH.
Neighbors of the couple, who lived in a semi-detached house in Aston, Birmingham, said they were well-liked and had several children.
One, who did not want to be named, said: “They seemed perfectly nice, we would say hello all the time. It is such a shame – this tragedy could not have happened to a nicer family.”
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the death of two British nationals in Saudi Arabia. We are in touch with the local authorities and the next-of-kin and are providing consular assistance at this difficult time.”
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111103111622
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
Please wait...
