Saudi Arabia declares epidemic-free Hajj

(MENAFN- Arab Times) MAKKAH Oct 7 (KUNA): Saudi Arabia's Acting Minister of Health Adel Faqih has declared the safety of this year's Hajj season saying that all pilgrims are very well. Speaking at a press conference the minister said: 'The Hajj season has been free from epidemic and quarantine diseases and that all pilgrims are healthy and well.' The Saudi government represented by the Ministry of Health has adopted a package of special precautionary and preventive measures along with technical and technological preparations during this annual religious event. The ministry has applied necessary health requirements to all pilgrims coming from outside the kingdom with a view to averting the entry of epidemic cases he added. Furthermore joint cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization (WHO) and other world specialized organizations has been put in effect for the occasion the Saudi health minister pointed out. For his part World Health Organization's representative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Hassan Al-Bushra extended congratulations to the kingdom represented by the Ministry of Health on the achievements accomplished in dealing with crowds' health management. He also highly commended the Saudi Health Ministry's plans to handle health risks and perils including epidemics during the Hajj season.

Pilgrims The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) continues to receive pilgrims returning from Makkah where they completed the fifth pillar of Islam known as Hajj. The department has recorded 5000 pilgrims who arrived on board 17 flights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In a press statement DGCA Director Saleh Al-Fodaghi confirmed the flights from Jeddah did not encounter obstacles as the pilgrims arrived safely at Kuwait International Airport. He said the airport witnessed a large number of arriving passengers being welcomed by their loved ones. Al-Fodaghi added the flights carrying the pilgrims will continue until Oct 8 indicating the pilgrims will receive their luggage later through a strong coordination between the directorate and Hajj offices.

Harmony He added that the harmony of work between the teams and committees of the mission did not come by accident but was a result of an organized teamwork that began months ago with the participation of various Kuwaiti ministries and institutions concerned. Earlier Kuwaiti pilgrims upon arrival at Mina the faithful scrambled to collect pebbles and tiny stones hurling them at the walls that resemble iblis (the devil) symbolizing their defiance of his plots to deviate them from the straight course of faith then they got involved in other rituals namely shaving hair cutting as well as sacrificial slaughtering of cattle. Roumi Al-Roumi the head of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf's delegation told KUNA on Saturday that most of the Kuwaiti pilgrims concluded the services revealing that a single citizen passed away due to natural causes on Arafat.

The pilgrims will remain in Mina for three days to spend the three 'tashreeq days' he said. He lauded the Minister of Interior and the Acting Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah for closely following on condition of Kuwaiti pilgrims namely his guidelines to help them resolve any problems they may face while performing the rituals. Meanwhile Kuwait's Consulate in Jeddah opened an affiliate office at the Jeddah International Airport to offer services to Kuwaiti hajjs (pilgrims) leaving the Kingdom. Consul General in Jeddah and Permanent Representative at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Saleh Al-Saqabi told KUNA on Monday that the office would offer Kuwaiti pilgrims whatever services they may need after they performed the Hajj to secure them a safe return home. Al-Saqabi urged his compatriot pilgrims to contact the office in case they face any problems.

The Kuwaiti Hajj mission overseeing the well-fare of Kuwaiti pilgrims here has performed its duties with aplomb and efficiency said deputy chief of the mission Khlaif Al-Othaina in statements to KUNA on Saturday. He said all Kuwaiti pilgrims went through Hajj rituals without any hitches or problems noting that Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister and Acting Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah sent by phone the best wishes of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah to members of the Kuwaiti Hajj mission on a job well done. The minister also received from Al- Othaina assurances that everything possible was done to make the Hajjis feel comfortable while performing the required rituals of Hajj.

Thanks Al-Othaina furthermore extended his deep thanks to Saudi authorities for facilitating everything needed by the Hajjis to conduct their duties stress-free. In the meantime all ports of entry in the country should be ready to the optimum degree to receive returning pilgrims from Makkah after concluding their Hajj pilgrimages said a Kuwaiti official on Saturday. Making inspecting rounds at these ports of entry including the airport Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior in charge of border entries Maj Gen Anwar Al-Yaseen told the press that officials in the ministry at all levels were concerned with the safety and comfort of returnees from the Hajj in Makkah. He praised the work being carried out by officials at all the nation's ports of entry including the international airport and seaports.