NHRS to monitor pilgrim services By Hamid Al-Iqbali MAKKAH – The National Human Rights Society (NHRS) is to monitor the quality of services provided by Haj agencies to pilgrims, including Tawafa and domestic Haj companies. Meflih Al-Qahtani, Acting Chairman of the NHRS, said the society would submit a full report to the Central Haj Committee highlighting all areas of concern. Al-Qahtani said the NHRS had identified a number of failings from last year's Haj and reported them to relevant authorities in order to rectify them before the beginning of this Haj season. The NHRS has a mobile office at the holy sites to enable it to carry out its monitoring work. – Okaz/SG Security patrols on highways By Abdullah Al-Meqatti-Dhulm DHULM – Special Security Road Forces will put into action next week its Haj plan to ensure the safety of pilgrims traveling on roads leading to the holy sites. More than 80 security patrols will be deployed on the Taif to Riyadh, Al-Sail to Makkah, and Abha highways which have records of a high incidence of traffic accidents during Haj seasons. Checkpoints have also been set up on all roads leading to the holy sites to prevent illegal residents and residents without Haj permits from entering Makkah. Checkpoint patrols also monitor vehicle speed, one of the major factors causing traffic accidents. – Okaz/SG 30 female medic volunteers at Grand Mosque By Zain Anbr JEDDAH – Over 30 female volunteer doctors, medical students and nurses are providing emergency medical services to pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This is the second year that the volunteers, who work under the umbrella of the Saudi Red Crescent led by Asma Al-Refai, have taken part in providing Haj services. Dr. Al-Refai said the team at the Grand Mosque would provide first aid assistance services to pilgrims. The most common cases the team dealt with, she said, were heat exhaustion, hypotension and dermatitis and flu.
