Senegal has implemented voluntary Covid-19 screening tests and reimposed mask-wearing at Dakar’s airport for returning Hajj pilgrims. The move comes after concerns over a respiratory syndrome that may have contributed to deaths among pilgrims in Mecca. While 78 rapid tests showed positive for Covid-19, authorities urge vigilance and calm to prevent an epidemic.
Egypt has taken decisive action in response to a tragic incident during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, revoking the licenses of 16 travel firms for violating safety protocols. The move underscores Egypt’s commitment to the safety of its citizens traveling abroad and highlights the need for robust oversight in the tourism sector, particularly for religious pilgrimages.
Egypt has taken action following the deaths of over 530 Egyptian pilgrims during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, revoking the licenses of 16 tourism companies and referring them to the public prosecutor. The crisis unit formed to address the situation has condemned the companies’ negligence in providing essential services, including medical assistance, and their failure to obtain proper Hajj visas for the pilgrims, denying them access to Saudi medical services. The unit also criticized the lack of adequate accommodation provided by the travel agencies, contributing to exhaustion and health complications among the pilgrims in the extreme Mecca heat.
Extreme heat in Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage has tragically claimed the lives of at least 550 pilgrims, with Egyptians accounting for the majority of the fatalities. The deaths highlight the dangers posed by rising temperatures and the vulnerability of unregistered pilgrims who lack access to adequate services and facilities. Authorities have taken measures to mitigate the heat’s impact, but experts recommend limiting the number of visitors and prioritizing the health of those participating.
Over 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world have gathered in and around Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with expectations of surpassing 2 million this year. The pilgrimage commences in Mina, followed by a daylong vigil on Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad delivered his Farewell Sermon. Pilgrims will then move to Muzdalifa and return to Mina for three days to symbolically stone pillars representing the devil. The Hajj culminates with a final circumambulation in Mecca, known as Farewell Tawaf. Despite the ongoing war in Gaza, Palestinian pilgrims traveled to Mecca on direct flights from Damascus, marking a thaw in relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims have arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins today, Friday. Pilgrims will perform circumambulation around the Kaaba before moving to Mina, a desert plain outside the city, on the first day of Hajj. The number of pilgrims is expected to grow in the coming months, with hundreds of thousands of Saudis and other residents joining the pilgrimage after it officially begins on Friday.
