Gulf | Saudi Arabia
More than 2m offer prayers at Haram Mosque
More than two million worshippers attended the isha (evening) and taraweeh prayers and the conclusion of the recitation of the Quran in the holy shrine of Makkah on the 29th night of the holy month of Ramadan.
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 23:44 October 11, 2007
Riyadh: More than two million worshippers attended the isha (evening) and taraweeh prayers and the conclusion of the recitation of the Quran in the holy shrine of Makkah on the 29th night of the holy month of Ramadan.
Press reports published yesterday noted that the large number of worshippers were able to perform their rituals with ease and tranquillity thanks to the facilities and services made available by the Saudi government.
The administration for the affairs of the Haram (Grand) Mosque played a significant role in keeping the mosque clean despite the large number of worshippers. The administration made electric power-operated carts available for the elderly and disabled as well as special lanes and escalators for those with special needs.
More than 1,000 security personnel were stationed in different posts inside the holy city and in points adjacent to the mosque to ensure security. Thousands of civil defence and Red Crescent personnel were put on alert to tackle any accidents.
The comprehensive safety and security plan implemented by security and other involved apparatus succeeded in easing traffic in the city and prevented any traffic jams during this peak time of the year.
Reports coming from Makkah said that despite the large number of vehicles that entered the city in the last ten days of Ramadan, traffic flowed freely and the reported accidents were relatively few compared with the number of cars and pedestrians in the city and around the area of the Haram Mosque.
The department of health in Makkah has provided comprehensive treatment and preventive healthcare to umrah performers and visitors to Makkah. All hospitals and healthcare centres in Makkah and inside the Holy Haram were provided with all necessary medication.
Emergency personnel scattered inside the mosque took care of emergency cases.
The director of health affairs in Makkah Dr Khalid Bin Qasem Al Simairy told reporters that the health conditions of umrah performers and visitors was assuring and no cases of infectious diseases were reported among them. He said that Ajyad General Hospital, near the Haram Mosque, was provided with additional medical cadres and equipment to enable it to offer medical care to those referred to it from health centres.
The comprehensive safety and security plan implemented by security and other apparatus succeeded in easing traffic in the city.
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