Probable risks during the annual Haj pilgrimage and ways to handle them were discussed here this week. At a meeting chaired by Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri, Director General of Civil Defense, commanders focused on modern equipment to be used in the holy sites during this year's Haj season. They also discussed precautionary measures for the safety of the pilgrims. Haj this year falls around Oct. 26. General Al-Tuwaijri said the meeting comes at the directives of Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minster and Interior Minister. “It reflects the great attention the leadership gives to the pilgrims' safety,” he said. Al-Tuwaijri also lauded the full cooperation and support shown by the government agencies involved in Haj services in implementing the Civil Defense Haj plan and precautionary measures. The construction of more than 40,000 durable fireproof tents in Mina, where pilgrims spend most of their time during the five-day Haj, has minimized the work of Civil Defense officers. The SR3-billion tent project, carried out by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, is considered one of the most important projects implemented in Mina for the welfare and security of pilgrims. About 3.88 million meters of fireproof material has been used for the project that covers 2.5 million sq. meters. These highly advanced, modern tents have been provided with 42,000 air-conditioners, 240,000 electric lamps and 170,000 fire extinguishing hoses. The Kingdom has spent more than SR25 billion in developing the desert valley of Mina into a modern city with state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities including flyovers and tunnels, and water and electricity networks. The newly established high-tech Jamrat Bridge with four levels is another milestone in the planning of Mina. Furthermore, to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims in Mina, especially near the Jamrat bridge, the government has introduced luggage storage facilities.
