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Saudi civil defence makes elaborate arrangements for Haj

MAKKAH: The Saudi Civil Defence Directorate has prepared 46-fire-fighting brigades in Mina, in addition to 64 rescue centres.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Al-Maghraby, head of the Civil Defence Directorate in Makkah, said in view of the fact that nowadays the Haj comes toward the end of winter, there is usually rain, winds and floods. For this reason, he said, the directorate has decided to convert many of the fire-fighting centres into rescue centres as well.

He said apart from increasing the number of the centres, even the number of patrols and personel manning them have been increased, and there is very close monitoring through the use of sophisticated equipment.

Maghraby said the tents that are to be used during this year's Haj are fireproof, but nonetheless gas should not be used in cooking meals, because fires caused by gas easily spread to other areas.

For its part, the Saudi Red Crescent Society will be deploying a staff complement of 1,664. Out of this 875 would be first-aid workers, 68 doctors, 403 drivers, plus 314 ambulances.

The president of the society, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Suweilim, has said the society has set up 117 centres, 21 of which are in Makkah, and 30 in Mina, while in Arafat there are 16 such first aid centres.

Such centres have also been set up in Madina and at various entry points, both land and sea points, in addition to the 70 doctors end first aid workers, who would be deployed at the Jamarat.

It is expected that the first batch of Egyptian pilgrims, who are coming by air, would arrive some time early this month, and there would be 100 on the first flight.

The first flight to bring pilgrims touched donw at the Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madina on February 21, the flight having emanated from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Ministry of Health alone is deploying about 10,000 employees, including doctors, first aid workers, drivers and other essential staff for this year. APP