A comprehensive plan covering all aspects of Haj is in place for the expected 2.5 million visitors who will be arriving in the Kingdom to take part in the holy journey this year. This was the assurance given yesterday to Saudi Gazette by Al-Sheikh Salih Bin AbdulRahman Al-Hussein, the head of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. The plan is supervised by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Chief of the Supreme Council of Haj. A labor force of 6,058 workers has been deployed, equipped with electrical cleaners and compact garbage-disposal vehicles. The workers clean and refill 20,000 Zamzam water thermoses and distribute sterilized plastic cups. A total of 1,756 regular staff of the Presidency, along with 1,800 temporary staff are currently doing field work. They offer general, technical, cultural, educational and guidance services to pilgrims. To cater for pilgrims who are not familiar with the Haj, scholars deliver lectures after Fajr, Asr and Isha prayers. These lectures are in Arabic, Urdu, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia and English. A network of 100 telephones can be used by pilgrims to ask about any matter relating to Haj or Umrah. The system is connected to a central room where scholars answer calls and offer advice. Thousands of booklets in various languages, containing the details of the rituals, are also available. One million copies of the Holy Qur'an in Arabic and other languages are being distributed. For Tawaf (circumambulating the Ka'ba) and Sa'y (the brisk walking between Al-Safa and Al-Marawah) a total of 10,000 wheelchairs are available for the disabled. These can be found at earmarked places outside the mosque and on the first floor at the Al-Safa gate. Wheelchairs can be used only on the first floor where a gallery has been built to go around the Ka'ba for Tawaf and for Sa'y. In addition, 525 wheelchairs are available for hire outside the Al-Safa gate. Security is a major part of the comprehensive Haj plan. A security force is on the lookout at all times for pickpockets. In addition, there is camera surveillance on all four floors. A computerized central room alerts security personnel to ensure a quick response. A total of 700 personnel are deployed at the Holy Mosque's 139 gates. The gates also have electronic lights, flashing green or red, to control the flow of pilgrims. Six electronic escalators at two gates operate around the clock. There is also a bridge and escalator to go onto the upper floors of the Grand Mosque. Only men are allowed to go onto the terrace. All these arrangements are also in force at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The Prophet's Mosque can accommodate a million worshippers. Twenty tankers supply about 200 tons of Zamzam water daily to the Prophet's Mosque. The water is stored in cool surface tanks and distributed in 4,000 thermoses inside and outside the mosque.
