21 June 2024 , 11:23
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More than 1,000 Muslim pilgrims have tragically died amid sweltering heat in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj.
Reports are indicating that a significant majority of those who died were unregistered worshippers, who had less access to shaded and cooler areas. An Arab diplomat has disclosed that out of the 658 Egyptians who perished, 630 were unregistered pilgrims.
The Hajj, a central pillar of the Islamic faith, is an obligatory act of worship for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime. The Saudi authorities have yet to release any statements regarding the fatalities or the causes of death amidst the soaring temperatures during the pilgrimage.
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A pilgrim uses an umbrella to hide from the sun (AFP via Getty Images)Meanwhile, scores of people have been queuing up at the Emergency Complex in Mecca's Al-Muaisem district, desperate for news about their missing loved ones. Deaths during the Hajj are not unheard of, given the sheer volume of over 2 million attendees at times, as the event has also been marred by stampedes and outbreaks of illness in its history.
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The pilgrimage annually attracts vast numbers of devotees from poorer countries, "many of whom have had little, if any, pre-Hajj health care," as noted in the April issue of the Journal of Infection and Public Health. The dense crowds present a high risk for the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly among pilgrims who have saved for years to attend and may be older individuals with underlying health issues.
The number of deaths this year at the Hajj pilgrimage has raised concerns, with countries like Jordan and Tunisia attributing some of the fatalities to intense heat. Khalid Bashir Bazaz, an Indian pilgrim, recounted the distressing scenes near the Grand Mosque last Wednesday, saying he "saw a lot of people collapsing to the ground unconscious" amid soaring temperatures that reached 51.8C this week.
A Muslim pilgrim prays at dawn on Mount Arafat (AFP via Getty Images)Egyptians have reported losing sight of family members in the sweltering heat and dense crowds. The Saudi Hajj authorities revealed that over 1.83 million Muslims took part in the 2024 Hajj, including more than 1.6 million from abroad and approximately 222,000 Saudis and residents.
Tragedy struck an Egyptian man at the Mecca medical complex on Wednesday when he discovered his mother was among those who had passed away. Overcome with grief, he eventually made a distraught phone call to their travel agent, accusing him of negligence: "He left her to die," he exclaimed, as others attempted to soothe him.
Security was heightened at the facility, where officials announced the names and nationalities of the deceased, which included individuals from Algeria, Egypt, and India. Relatives were permitted entry to identify their loved ones.
The ruling Al Saud family of the kingdom wields significant influence in the Muslim world, thanks to their oil wealth and stewardship of Islam's most sacred sites. Like his predecessors, King Salman has adopted the title of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a reference to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, which houses the Kaaba towards which Muslims direct their prayers five times daily, and the Prophet's Mosque located in the neighbouring city of Medina.