Millions of pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat for Haj

Makkah: Marking the climax of this year's annual pilgrimage of Haj, millions of pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat on Sunday, seeking the mercy of God.

Chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (Here I am answering Your call, O God)," hundreds of thousands of pilgrims moved into the valley of Mina on Saturday at the start of Haj.

An integrated security team of 100,000 personnel drawn from all the branches of the Ministry of Interior have been deployed across the holy sites to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims.

Saudi leaders, led by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, arrived in Mina to personally supervise the movement of the faithful and ensure a peaceful and safe Haj this year also.

The Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, who is also head of the Supreme Haj Committee, and Makkah Governor Prince Khalid Al Faisal, who heads the Central Haj Committee, and other senior Saudi officials followed up the ascendance of the pilgrims to Mina.

Prince Naif issued his directives to the concerned officials to extend all possible facilities and services to the pilgrims.

Smooth flow

Gulf News reporter watched the smooth flow of pilgrims and there were no incidents reported from any corners of the vast tent city.

Many in the sea of white-clad believers were so moved by the occasion that tears streamed down their faces as they set out from Makkah for Mina, retracing the steps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Their movement into the tent city of Mina on Saturday was completed in an orderly and smooth fashion. Some were on foot, others in cars and yet others on buses. They came from all corners of the globe.

Traffic moved out of the holy city of Makkah at a slow and then a brisk pace. Pilgrims faced little difficulty getting into Mina where hundreds of security forces are manning bridges, roads and underpasses.

Pilgrims without permits who formerly pitched their plastic tents everywhere obstructing the flow of people were not allowed to do so this year.

1.7 million pilgrims from abroad

The Director of Department of Haj and Umrah Security at Haj Security Forces Major General Mansour Al Turki said that the number of pilgrims came for Haj from various parts of the world accounts for more than 1.7 million.

The Adviser to the Minister of Haj and the Ministry's spokesman said that the ministry granted more than 199,000 permits to pilgrims inside the Kingdom through 236 companies and institutions working in the service of pilgrims at home.

It is expected that more than 500,000 residents from Makkah will join them in performing Haj.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Sudanese President Omar Bashir, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were among the dignitaries performing Haj this year.

Medical services

Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al Mani inspected on Friday night the hospitals of the Holy Places, and he was briefed on the service which will be extended by the hospitals to the pilgrims.

At the end of the tour Dr. Al Mani reiterated the readiness of the hospitals to provide the guests of God with the required medical services, noting that the hospitals have been provided with the required qualified cadres and the medical equipment.

He urged he personnel of the health sectors to extend all possible services to the pilgrims. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Health has readied seven hospitals and 74 health centers at the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Live transmission

In another development, the Holy Kaaba will be adorned with the new Kiswa (cover) on Sunday, the day of Arafat. The General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques will hold live transmission of the ceremony through its web site gph.gov.sa. The Holy Kaaba is adorned with the new cover once in a year during Haj.

Accident

Meanwhile, seven Nigerian pilgrims were killed and 41 others injured when their bus overturned on Makkah - Madinah expressway, 120 km from Makkah.

The pilgrims were returning to Makkah after visiting the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.