Hajj season: What are the explanations for the excessive variety of deaths this yr? – BBC Information Arabic

Regardless of the variety of deaths, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced the success of its well being plans for this yr’s Hajj season. Saudi Well being Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel mentioned that the Hajj season has handed “with none disruptions or threats to public well being, regardless of the massive numbers of pilgrims this yr, and the challenges related to excessive temperatures . “

Saudi authorities counted round 1.83 million pilgrims this yr, together with 1.6 million who got here from outdoors the nation.

The BBC tried to seek out out the explanations for the massive variety of deaths amongst pilgrims this yr.

The intense warmth in Saudi Arabia, the place the temperature recorded 51.8 levels Celsius within the shade, is believed to be one of many essential causes behind such numerous deaths amongst pilgrims this yr.

The Saudi Ministry of Well being warned pilgrims in regards to the results of publicity to the solar and excessive warmth, and suggested them to drink loads of water – however regardless of this, many pilgrims suffered from warmth exhaustion and warmth strokes.

An Arab diplomat attributed the demise of many of the 658 Egyptian pilgrims this yr to the intense warmth. Most of them weren’t with out the designated companies for unusual pilgrims, which prevented them from receiving the required help.

Chatting with the BBC, Aisha Idris, a pilgrim from Nigeria, mentioned: “By God’s mercy and nothing else, I’m nonetheless alive.

Aisha mentioned: “They closed all of the doorways resulting in the Kaaba, so we needed to take shelter on the roof, the place the warmth was very intense.”

Aisha continued: “I attempted to guard myself from the solar with an umbrella, whereas I used to be watering myself with the holy water of Zamzam, I believe I received sick in some unspecified time in the future, and one of many pilgrims helped me and gave me an umbrella. The reality is I did not anticipate this stage of warmth.”

The son of one of many ladies who died in the course of the Hajj season this yr spoke to the BBC, saying: “Communication with my mom all of the sudden stopped.

His mom had died of sunstroke, leaving her household looking for any hint of her.

The son mentioned, telling the BBC: “She needed to be buried in Mecca.”

As a result of unusually intense warmth, and the extraordinary bodily exercise required by the Hajj rituals in the midst of giant open areas, pilgrims face dangers, particularly as lots of them are aged, or affected by diseases, or each.

Deaths in Hajj aren’t as a result of new excessive warmth; But it surely occurred way back. Final yr, the Saudi authorities counted greater than two thousand instances of warmth exhaustion amongst pilgrims.

Scientists are warning that the climate is more likely to worsen as a result of world warming.

Reuters information company quoted Karl-Friedrich Schleussner, head of the local weather sciences division at Local weather Analytics, as saying, “The Hajj season has beforehand taken place in sizzling climates for greater than a thousand years, however the disaster is routine – present local weather rising the depth of the climate. warmth.”

As a result of rise in temperature on Earth above pre-industrial ranges, the researcher believes that the danger of heatstroke whereas performing the Hajj rituals is improve 5 instances.

Expectations point out that the Earth will register a 1.5 diploma Celsius improve in temperature by 2030, which is able to improve the challenges within the upcoming Hajj seasons.

Primarily based on many testimonies, poor administration by the Saudi authorities worsened the scenario, resulting in disaster in lots of designated areas for pilgrims.

Witnesses spoke of poor administration of lodging and services, saying that tents had been overcrowded with out refrigeration and enough sanitary services.

Amina (not her actual title), a 38-year-old Pakistani, mentioned: “There have been no air conditioners in our tents regardless of the warmth in Mecca.

Amina mentioned: “There have been many instances of suffocation in these tents, whereas we showered in a horrible expertise.”

As well as, Fawzia, a pilgrim from Jakarta, mentioned: “Many fell from exhaustion due to the gang and the intense warmth contained in the tents.”

Pilgrims additionally discovered themselves having to journey lengthy distances on foot in excessive warmth.

A lot of this struggling was attributed to the presence of checkpoints on the roads, in addition to poor administration of pilgrim transport operations.

A pilgrim from Pakistan, who requested to not be named, mentioned: “They despatched us on a seven kilometer path with out water or umbrellas to guard us from the solar’s rays, we needed to stroll lengthy distances unnecessarily.”

She instructed the BBC: “Within the camps, pilgrims had been left as in the event that they had been chickens or animals on a farm. There was no area between the beds to maneuver round.

The vacationer Muhammad Asha says that some pilgrims had been pressured to stroll a distance of lower than 15 kilometers a day, and this left them prey to warmth exhaustion and bodily exhaustion, as a result of lack of water.

Al-Mutawaf instructed the BBC: “That is my 18th argument, and from my expertise I can say that the Saudi authorities aren’t solely offering sources, however they aren’t offering help. “

Muhammad remembers: “In earlier years, the approaches to the tents had been nonetheless open, however now all these paths are closed. “Till he reaches the tabernacle.”

The Mutawif continues: “Even when there may be an emergency service, nobody will be capable of attain you earlier than half-hour have handed.

To carry out the Hajj, one should acquire a Hajj visa.

However some folks attempt to do Hajj with out getting this visa, regardless of warnings from the Saudi authorities in regards to the penalties of this.

Since they aren’t formally registered, they’re cautious to not talk with the authorities, for worry of being uncovered, so they’re typically disadvantaged of help. wants

This downside, many consider, has contributed to the rise within the variety of deaths in the course of the Hajj season this yr.

Saudi authorities blame these “irregular pilgrims” for the aforementioned overcrowding of tents.

In an interview with the BBC, Saad Al-Qurashi, adviser to the Nationwide Committee for Hajj and Umrah, mentioned that it’s straightforward to tell apart irregular pilgrims; The place they don’t have ceremonial playing cards, which in flip have an “identification code,” which is critical to enter the holy locations and is given to common pilgrims.

Maybe one of many causes for the massive variety of deaths annually amongst pilgrims is that lots of them are previous – and should have spent a few years saving for the bills of Hajj.

Many Muslims want that they might die whereas performing the Hajj and be buried in these holy locations.

If a pilgrim dies whereas performing the Hajj delegation, the Hajj delegation shall be knowledgeable about this. The identification of the pilgrim is recognized by an identification card positioned both on a bracelet that he wears round his wrist, or round his neck. Then a certificates is obtained from a physician, earlier than the authorities challenge a demise certificates.

Funeral prayers are held in giant mosques such because the Nice Mosque in Mecca, or the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, relying on the place of demise. The physique of the deceased is washed, coated, and transferred to a morgue supplied by the Saudi authorities, who cowl all prices.

The tombs are characterised by simplicity. It’s with out proof, and typically a couple of pilgrim is buried in a single grave. There are books that include the names of the people who find themselves buried and the place their graves are, in order that households can discover their relations and go to them if they want.

In cooperation with the Crimson Crescent and different organizations, the Saudi authorities ensures that the dignity of the lifeless is preserved.