by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
By Dr. Aslam Abdullah
This year, the Hajj will take place in the most unusual circumstances. The pilgrims will wear masks and maintain social distance when standing at Arafat, stoning Satanic pillars and staying at Mina or circling the House of God. Non-Saudi Arabian residents will not participate in the annual pilgrimage that hosts millions from all 200 plus countries.
The pandemic does not discriminate and loves people’s assembly. The Hajj is one of the largest gatherings of Muslims and a fertile occasion for the Virus. The decision by the monarchs of Saudi Arabia, to limit the pilgrimage to a few, painful as it is, offers a sensible and practical strategy to protect pilgrims from harm.
Epidemics and pandemics hit pilgrims at least nine times from 1814 until 1987. About 100,000 perished in those epidemics in 1814, 1831, 1837, 1846, 1858, 1864, 1892, 1895 and 1987. Hopefully, 2020 will not add significant numbers to those who died in epidemics in the past.
Human life is sacred and a divine gift. The Prophet respected human life and, on one occasion, looking at the Kaba, said: “You are dear to me, but the life of a human is more precious to me.”
The Quran said: “… It may well be that you hate a thing the while it is right for you, and it may well be that you love an idea the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know. (2:216)
Muslims will feel the absence of millions from Makkah and Medina, but most likely this year, the Hajj interest increases the interest of people in the Hajj may multiply. Muslims around the world may turn on their televisions and computers during the first 13 days of Zill Hijja to watch the Hajj proceedings with increased interest. Even non-Muslims may like to view the Hajj and rituals associated with it.
It is an opportunity for Hajj organizers and pilgrims to show discipline and organization in their observation of rituals. It will offer an example to other religious communities to organize large gatherings of people in a safe environment. It will also allow others to learn about an Islam that respects human life, believing that God is in the hearts of the people, and the real purpose of rituals is to experience the closeness with Him.
It is this spirit that is dear to God.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Makkah : Around 7,411 employees are working around the clock in order to deliver adequate and improved telecom services to pilgrims. The Communications and Information Technology Commission supervises the services in accordance with authorized service providers.
According to the General Authority for Statistics (GaStat), the number of branch offices of telecom services reached 69 offices in Makkah this year, and the total number of 2G, 3G and 4G cell towers was 15,972 towers and that is to ensure and extend the coverage of mobile network and data in Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah, Arafat, Madinah and at the Grand Mosque. Additionally, telecom and Internet services are available at air, land, and sea ports as well as all roads to serve pilgrims at anytime and anywhere.
The percentage of increase in the number of 4G cell towers was at 42.90% at the Grand Mosque, 24.40% in Makkah, 106.00% at the holy places, and 24.50% in Madinah. Also, the percentage of increase of 4G network capacity at the peak hours for this year reached 80.00% at the Holy Mosque, 84.00% in Makkah, 182.00% at the holy places, and 36.30% in Madinah.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has launched ‘’Smart Hajj’’ application this year on ‘’Saudi’’ portal to provide digital services. Moreover, the ministry has also made a list of the distinguished interactive apps in order to identify Hajj rituals and to help pilgrims to benefit from technology when moving between the holy places. Also, the ministry has put a number of guidelines, health apps and some government applications that may help pilgrims and Umrah performers in Makkah and Madinah.
In addition, the Communications and Information Technology Commission branch in Makkah periodically checks the sound and internet indicators, ensures their effectiveness, scans the frequency bands of mobile networks at the Two Grand Mosques as well as the connected highways between Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah to ensure the quality of mobile services. It also deals with any harmful interference that may affect the performance of the network and allows the use of frequencies of each mobile service provider to increase the capacity of the network and improve the level of services provided to pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah and the holy places.
Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications companies have more than 460 sales points available at the holy places to provide SIM cards, data SIM cards, and recharge cards, as well as providing technical support centers with various languages to serve the pilgrims.
—AG/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Makkah : The General Authority for Statistics announced that the number of healthcare providers for Hajj 2018 has exceeded 32,579, of which 9,216 are women.
In addition to healthcare practitioners coming from the Ministry of Health, Saudi Red Crescent, and the Food and Drug Authority, there are a number of personnel who provide healthcare services from security and military sectors. The number of medical and paramedic teams that serve Holy Places during Hajj of 2018 has reached 959 teams.
On its daily Hajj statistics bulletin, the Authority stated that the Kingdom has utilized all of its resources and capabilities to provide healthcare, treatment, prevention, and emergency services free of charge. These efforts are carried out by 29,495 of the Ministry of Health’s physicians, pharmacists, nurses, technicians, and administrators. The services include: open heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, renal and peritoneal dialysis, gastrointestinal endoscopy, as well as child deliveries.
The number of working hospitals has reached 25 hospitals in Makkah and Holy Places, with a combined capacity of 4,814 beds. In addition, there are 153 health centers, 106 field teams in Holy Places, and 100 small ambulances. There are cars that function as mobile ICUs to treat urgent cases as well as 80 large ambulances.
So far, the Ministry of Health’s hospitals have performed 142 cardiac catheterizations, 9 open heart surgeries, 761 hemodialysis, 39 gastrointestinal endoscopy, and 568 operations.
The Saudi Red Crescent dedicated 127 emergency centers, 361 ambulances, 20 bikes, and more than 2,867 staff members in Makkah, Madinah, and Holy Places.
All the medical and paramedic teams perform their duties round the clock 24/7 until the fifteenth day of the month of Hajj. The involved authorities have devised comprehensive programs and plans to ensure that all the needs of pilgrims are met. The program includes procedures for emergency cases, utilizing a unified approach to providing medical, prevention, treatment, and emergency services. Using the most advanced healthcare practices, the services are delivered by experienced and skilled healthcare providers for pilgrims and visitors to Makkah, Madinah, and Holy Places, and the roads leading to them.
In addition to healthcare services provided on-land, some services were delivered via air ambulance.
The Food and Drug Authority manages a team of 215 food, drug, and medical equipment inspectors. They support inspection agencies that are responsible for inspecting pilgrims’ meals in Makkah, Madinah, and Holy Places. From the 7 services they provide: inspecting food, drugs, medical equipment coming in through various ports, monitoring food facilities in Makkah, Madinah, as well as inspecting vehicles.
—AG/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Jeddah : The number of Hajj pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the Hajj season until the end of Tuesday reached 1,570,054 pilgrims.
According to the statistics issued by the General Directorate of Passports, this represents a decrease of 15,183 or about 1 percent, compared to the number of pilgrim arrivals during the same period last year.
The General Directorate of Passports reported that the number of pilgrims coming by air reached 1,473,659 pilgrims, by land 80,569 and by sea 15,826.
—AB/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Calicut Airport
New Delhi : Aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday granted permission to operate wide-bodied aircraft at Calicut airport that will see Saudi Arabian airlines operate direct flights to the Kingdom from the city in Kerala, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said.
The operation of international flights from Calicut would also likely lead to its becoming an embarkation point from Haj pilgrims, Prabhu told reporters here at a briefing. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam.
“The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has today decided to start operations from Calicut, which will facilitate a large number of people from Kerala who are living abroad,” Prabhu said.
Sinha said that the Saudi Arabian national carrier plans to fly aircraft like A330 and Boeing 777 to Calicut and technical clearance had been given for these wide-bodied planes.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had suspended wide-bodied aircraft operations at Calicut airport in May 2015 following a directive from the DGCA, citing safety concerns.
“Safety and passenger convenience are our primary concern and we have to ensure that these are not compromised,” Prabhu said.
“AAI has informed us that all mitigation measures (to enable wide-bodied flights) will be in place by August 20,” he said.
Ministry officials said the Saudi Airlines had not intimated a date for starting operations from Calicut.
Work is underway to construct a new international terminal at Calicut which will increase its current passenger handling capacity of 3.5 million people per annum to 5 million when completed, officials said.
“Calicut is likely to be an embarkation point for the Haj pilgrimage from next year,” Sinha said.
It was also announced that Kerala’s fourth international airport at Kannur will start commercial flight operations in October.
“It is rare that a new greenfleld airport like Kannur starts with operating international flights,” Prabhu said.
Kerala will also soon start twin-engine sea-plane operations following the DGCA’s issuing of the regulatory framework for such aircraft and the waterdrome certification, the Minister announced.
“Operators can now apply for the licence to ply sea-planes on specified routes. Other possible destinations for such services can be island areas like Lakshadweep and Andamans,” Sinha said.
—IANS
