JEDDAH, 24 November 2006 — Comfort and security of pilgrims are among the top priorities of the Ministry of Haj. “All official agencies will work together to ensure security at the Jamrat area,” Minister of Haj Fouad Al-Farsy said yesterday.A number of measures have been taken by the government and the private sector to provide better services to the pilgrims, the minister told a meeting of Tawafa establishments and other Haj-related agencies at the Jeddah Hilton.

“The success of the stoning ritual at the Jamrat does not solely rest with the official administrative machinery and individual agencies. “All agencies involved in the organization and management of Haj should conduct themselves in an organized manner to the satisfaction of every pilgrim,” the minister said.

Fayeq Biari, chairman of the board of directors of the Tawafa Establishment for Arab Countries, said in a statement in Makkah yesterday that Al-Farsy had approved a plan to provide best services to all pilgrims.

The plan envisages the launch of 113 field service groups to serve the pilgrims at a number of neighborhoods in Makkah from the time of their arrival till their departure.

At the Jeddah meeting, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs’ Undersecretary Dr. Habib Zain Al-Abidin presented a paper about the Jamrat Bridge project and various Haj-related services. He outlined a plan in which pilgrims from different countries could be systematically organized to perform the stoning ritual.

Meanwhile, the Madinah airport and the Jeddah Haj Terminal, which were officially opened for Haj flights on Wednesday, became the scene of hectic activities with pilgrims flying in from many world destinations. The first two batches of 540 Haj pilgrims from the southern Indian state of Karnataka arrived on board two special Saudi Arabian Airlines flights in Madinah.

The Ministry of Health has decided that all Haj pilgrims from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, regardless of age and vaccination status, should receive at least one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV) prior to their departure for Saudi Arabia.

The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked all state governments to make necessary arrangements at all the health facilities for administration of OPV and issuing certificates to Haj pilgrims. The state governments have also been requested to set up polio vaccination booths at the offices of the state Haj committees as well as airports from where the flights leave for Saudi Arabia.

Immunization of all travelers prior to departure will minimize the risk of virus being carried by pilgrims. It will also boost the immunity of travelers, especially young children who are more susceptible to infection and will help stop the spread of the disease.

Source: Arab News