Diplomats have confirmed that at least 550 pilgrims perished during this year’s hajj, highlighting the grueling conditions of the pilgrimage, which took place under scorching temperatures.
This tragedy underscores the extreme challenges faced by pilgrims as they fulfill one of Islam’s five pillars.
Among the deceased, at least 323 were Egyptians, with the majority succumbing to heat-related illnesses, according to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses.
“All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat,” stated one diplomat, noting that only one death resulted from injuries sustained during a minor crowd crush. These figures were derived from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighbourhood of Mecca.
In addition to the Egyptians, at least 60 Jordanians lost their lives, an increase from the 41 deaths reported earlier by Amman. The new fatalities bring the total number of reported deaths from multiple countries to 577, according to an AFP tally. The diplomats noted that the total count at the Al-Muaisem morgue stood at 550.
The hajj, a mandatory religious duty for all Muslims with the means, has increasingly been impacted by climate change.
A Saudi study published last month revealed that temperatures in the area where the hajj rituals are performed have risen by 0.4 degrees Celsius each decade.
This year, temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, according to the Saudi nation national Meteorology Centrei officials had advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water, and avoid sun exposure during the day’s hottest hours.
However, many hajj rituals, including the prayers on Mount Arafat, require prolonged outdoor activity during the daytime.
Pilgrims reported seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and noted that ambulance services seemed overwhelmed at times.
Approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the hajj this year, with 1.6 million coming from abroad, according to Saudi authorities. Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt the hajj through irregular channels, unable to afford the costly official hajj visas.
These unregistered pilgrims often face more significant risks as they cannot access the air-conditioned facilities along the hajj route.
An Egyptian diplomat highlighted that the death toll was “absolutely” exacerbated by the large number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims.
“Irregular pilgrims caused great chaos in the Egyptian pilgrims’ camps, causing the collapse of services,” said an Egyptian official supervising the country’s hajj mission. The pilgrims endured extreme heat without adequate food, water, or air conditioning.
Earlier this month, Saudi officials cleared hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca in preparation for the Hajj. Despite these efforts, unregistered pilgrims continue to strain resources and exacerbate the dangers faced during the pilgrimage.
Other countries reporting deaths during this year’s hajj include Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal. Most have not specified how many deaths were heat-related.
Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel stated on Tuesday that health plans for the hajj had been successfully implemented, preventing significant outbreaks of disease and other public health threats.
The official Saudi Press Agency reported that health officials provided virtual consultations to over 5,800 pilgrims, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt interventions and mitigating a potential surge in cases.
This year’s hajj has been a stark reminder of the increasingly severe conditions pilgrims face due to rising global temperatures.
The tragic loss of life has cast a shadow over the spiritual journey, prompting calls for improved measures to protect the millions who undertake this pilgrimage each year.
As climate change continues to impact the region, ensuring the safety and well-being of hajj participants remains a critical challenge for Saudi authorities and the international community.
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