The Ministry of Interior held its second press conference for senior officials of the Umrah Security Forces for the year 1444 AH at the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in Makkah yesterday. The conference addressed the Ministry's plans and preparations for the last ten days of the Umrah season this year and the days of Eid Al-Fitr. The Director of Public Security, Lieutenant-General Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Bassami; the Director General of Civil Defense, Major General Dr. Hammoud bin Suleiman Al-Faraj; and the Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba attended the press conference. The Director of Public Security confirmed that the plans of the Umrah security forces have achieved their goals during the last period of the blessed month of Ramadan and are ready to deal with high densities during the last ten days. He added that in light of the high density of Umrah performers, the front of the first floor and the roof have been allocated for Tawaf (circumambulation), in addition to the courtyard and the ground floor. Lieutenant-General Al-Bassami commended the Command and Control Center for working professionals to apply the highest levels of security and safety since the beginning of the holy month, with the daily increase of Umrah performers. Moreover, he referred to the harmony and high coordination in working with partners, which is reflected in the integration of roles and facing challenges to serve the Grand Mosque's visitors, stressing that the plan to confront negative phenomena, including arresting beggars, works with high efficiency. The Director of Public Security also emphasized the security deployment in all axes of the Holy Capital to eliminate such phenomena. The Director General of Civil Defense affirmed that the Civil Defense Forces work around the clock to provide services to Umrah performers and worshipers at 48 sites, and by deploying and stationing civil defense teams and units in more than 111 sites in the Makkah and Madinah. Civil defense teams work with the support and efforts exerted by volunteer teams, along with the field efforts of spreading safety awareness measures through the displays of the central area, the Two Holy Mosques, tourist facilities, and media platforms. The Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Passports announced gearing up readiness in all air, land, and sea ports to ensure the speedy completion of procedures for visiting worshippers, starting from their arrival procedures and the follow-up on them around the clock, supervised by the Command and Control Center. The passport services system is integrated to facilitate religious ritual performance, along with awareness efforts.
