Saudi Gazette report MINA – The tent city of Mina Wednesday reverberated with the Talabiya, “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik,” as more than two million pilgrims settled in their tents to spend the Tarwiyah night. The day is known as Tarwiyah (watering) as pilgrims in the past stopped at Mina to feed their animals and stock up for the following day's trip to Arafat. Thursday morning just after sunrise, the white sea of humanity will surge toward the plains of Arafat, some 10 km southeast of Mina, where the pilgrims will spend the day in prayer and supplication, marking the high point of the five-day Haj. Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Haj Supreme Committee, said that 1,752,932 pilgrims came from abroad representing 189 nationalities, of whom 951,806 are male and 801,126 are female pilgrims. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, and all officials concerned with serving the pilgrims followed up the process of the movement of pilgrims. Rains are expected Thursday in Arafat, said Lt. Col. Abdullah Al-Harthi, Civil Defense spokesman, in a press conference here Wednesday. “We've taken all necessary precautionary measures, and have shelters for pilgrims,” he said. Al-Harthi said that 19 aircraft are monitoring the movement of pilgrims and will respond to any emergency. “This year, we're going to use for the first time an airplane for serving pilgrims. We also required Haj camps to use sensors in their camps which detect electrical failure in seconds and cut off power.” There are 100 rescue, firefighting, and ambulance units and monitoring systems to cover traffic inside 21 tunnels, he said. The arrival of pilgrims in Mina was safe and smooth, said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior. He said some 800 motorcycles were impounded for not having proper license plates and for failure to comply with traffic regulations. Extensive efforts are being made by security forces to prevent pilgrims from sleeping on mattresses in the streets and blocking the roads leading to the Jamarat Building, he noted. Maj. Gen. Al-Turki said the ministry has chalked out plans to manage crowds during Dhuhr and Asr prayers at Nimrah Mosque in Arafat. Dr. Khaled Marghalani, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, reiterated the preparedness of the ministry's medical teams to provide pilgrims with necessary medical services if required. There are four hospitals and 46 primary healthcare centers fully equipped with personnel and modern medical devices, he noted. “Our teams will accompany pilgrims throughout their trip from Mina to Arafat and from Arafat to Muzdalifah,” he said. Dr. Khaled Al-Hibshi, spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent Society, said all emergency centers and ambulances in Mina and Arafat are ready to deal with any cases. This year, special ambulances will be used for the first time to deal with critical cases, he said. Aircraft were dispatched to several locations in Arafat. “Because of the large numbers involved, Al-Mashair Train started transporting pilgrims from Mina to Arafat Wednesday evening,” said Saud Al-Dhikri, spokesman for the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Sheikh Abdulaziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Board of Senior Ulema and Religious Research and Ifta, has urged pilgrims to be calm, have peace of mind and respect regulations and directives. About 30 workers from the Kiswah Factory are scheduled to replace the Kiswah of the Holy Ka'ba after dawn (Fajr) prayer Thursday, as is the custom of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques every year on this day. The old Kiswah will be replaced with a new one. Meanwhile, the National Water Company (NWC) represented by the Makkah Works Unit has adopted an integrated plan to provide water in Makkah and the holy sites so as to meet the pilgrims' needs. More than 600,000 cubic meters of water is being provided every day from Al-Shu'aibah old and new (desalination) plants .
