Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, has endorsed the Civil Defense safety and security plan to deal with emergency situations in Makkah this Ramadan. This is according to Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Twaijri, Director General of the Civil Defense, who said the plan will be carried out by all government agencies which make up the Civil Defense Council. The plan takes into consideration the huge numbers of Umrah pilgrims and visitors to Makkah this time of the year. He said the summer holiday leads to overcrowding in Makkah because thousands of holidaymakers want to spend the holy month in the vicinity of the Holy Haram worshipping Allah and reciting the Qur'an. Al-Twaijri said the Civil Defense plan will be implemented from the first of Ramadan. He said the plan covers more than 12 risk areas and counter measures. Additional forces to be deployed this year to maintain order include more than 4,300 officers and non-commissioned officers. These forces include safety patrols and field teams, in addition to 800 various types of machinery and four helicopters. The risk list includes fires in the vicinity of the Holy Haram, at power stations, hotels, residential towers where Umrah pilgrims are housed and car tunnels. Security personnel will also be watching for overcrowding, stampedes at the Haram's gates and areas surrounding the Grand Mosque. Other risks include power failures, heavy rain and floods. He said the plan also deals with rock falls and mountain slides which usually cause great damage to public facilities. Epidemic diseases are also on the list. “The plan also covers food poisoning, collapse of residential buildings and cracks in underground water tankers and reservoirs.” He said there is a precise definition of the tasks of the agencies and forces to be deployed to handle emergencies. Al-Twaijri said Prince Naif is personally monitoring all stages of the plan, which has been designed to ensure the highest degree of safety for all Umrah pilgrims and visitors. He made it clear that the Civil Defense Council will not compromise on safety and will deal strictly with anyone who ignores these measures.
