Thursday’s heartbreaking Mina tragedy shocked and grieved everybody.
While the incident underlined the need for more efforts to bolster safety measures, the massive operation undertaken by the Kingdom to ensure a secure and comfortable Haj cannot be ignored.
There can’t be an excuse for the unfortunate crush, but the importance of pilgrims’ self-awareness and self-discipline needs to be highlighted again. Pilgrims carrying bags while walking and not following clear instructions about movement have caused problems in the past too. No security apparatus in the world can physically control a crowd that swells to millions in limited space and time.
The Kingdom spends billions of riyals on the Haj management and deploys the best resources to implement gigantic projects at the holy sites. The Kingdom considers this task as its Islamic duty. The government does not make any profits from its massive Haj operation, which is second to none in size and volume.
Handling two to three million Muslims from 164 different countries and cultures is a mammoth task. No one in the world has the kind of experience the authorities here have gained in ensuring a smooth pilgrimage. It is a phenomenal organizational feat. The wellbeing and security of such a vast concentration of people in such a relatively small area is a big undertaking.
The logistics are mind-boggling. Hajis needed 10 million cubic meters of water. More than 800 flights a day landed at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport – that works out at almost two planes a minute over a 24-hour period.
Hundreds of thousands of security personnel and volunteers were present throughout the Haj to save pilgrims from deluded fanatics and to keep the event free from politics. Ferociously high temperatures also added to the challenge this year.
After the crane disaster in Makkah, the world saw how Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman took action on the spot and a swift probe was launched to fix responsibility. A preliminary enquiry resulted in negligent contractors being banned from leaving the Kingdom. But even while the wreckage was still being cleared away, substantial compensation was announced for the injured and for the families of the dead.
Similar action was witnessed on Thursday when the king ordered a review of Haj plans.
The Kingdom, which believes in transparency, has no reason to hide facts.
Saudi Arabia was, is and will always be dedicated to looking after Hajis’ welfare and security in the best way possible.
The Kingdom is periodically subjected to unjust criticism by some quarters in the Muslim world. This must stop. The critics will do a greater service to their cause by joining hands with Saudi Arabia to make the annual pilgrimage more comfortable.

SOURCE:

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