A Saudi report released last month claimed that the trip is becoming more and more impacted by climate change, with temperatures in the pilgrimage area rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) every ten years.
In Short
- Climate change is increasing temperatures during the hajj pilgrimage, impacting the health of pilgrims.
- Over 550 pilgrims died this year, many due to heat-Related illnesses.
- Virtual consultations were provided to over 5,800 pilgrims, helping to mitigate health risks.
- Saudi health officials emphasize the importance of these measures to prevent further fatalities.
TFD – The Hajj pilgrimage continues to face escalating challenges due to climate change, with rising temperatures leading to numerous heat-related deaths and illnesses. Health officials have introduced virtual consultations to provide timely intervention and reduce the impact of heat-related cases.
At least 550 pilgrims lost their lives during the Haj, according to diplomats on Tuesday, highlighting the arduous nature of the journey that took place in sweltering heat this year once more.
At least 323 Egyptians lost their lives, with the majority dying from heat-related ailments, according to two Arab diplomats in charge of organizing their nations’ reactions to AFP.
One of the diplomats stated, “All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat,” with the exception of one who died from injuries he received in a small crowd crush. The overall number of deaths was derived from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood of Mecca.
The ambassadors reported that at least 60 Jordanians also perished, surpassing the official count of 41 that Amman had earlier on Tuesday announced.
An AFP count puts the number of deaths recorded by various countries up to 577 with the addition of these latest deaths.
According to the diplomats, there were 550 people overall at the largest morgue in Mecca, located at Al-Muaisem.
One of the five pillars of Islam is the Haj, which every Muslim who has the means to do so must perform at least once.
A Saudi report released last month claimed that the trip is becoming more and more impacted by climate change, with temperatures in the pilgrimage area rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) every ten years.
The Saudi national meteorological agency reported that on Monday, temperatures in the Grand Mosque in Mecca reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit).
STRESS FROM HEAT
Egypt’s foreign ministry had earlier on Tuesday said that Cairo was working with Saudi authorities to look for Egyptians who had vanished during the Haj.
Egyptians may or may not have been among the “a certain number of deaths,” according to a government statement.
The Saudi authorities have stated that they are treating over 2,000 pilgrims who are experiencing heat exhaustion; however, they have not updated this number since Sunday and have not disclosed any information regarding fatalities.
Last year, at least 240 pilgrims—mostly from Indonesia—were reported deceased by several nations.
Reporters from AFP observed pilgrims in Mina, outside of Mecca, on Monday dousing themselves in water bottles while volunteers provided them with chilled beverages and chocolate ice cream that melted quickly to keep cool.
Pilgrims were instructed by Saudi officials to carry umbrellas, stay hydrated, and stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
However, spending long periods of time outside during the day is a requirement of several Haj rituals, such as the prayers on Mount Arafat that were performed on Saturday.
Some pilgrims reported witnessing lifeless bodies at the side of the road and occasionally feeling overrun by medical services.
This year, almost 1.8 million pilgrims performed the Haj, with 1.6 million coming from outside the country, according to Saudi officials.
ANONYMOUS PILGRIMS
Tens of thousands of pilgrims seek to complete the Haj through unofficial means every year because they are unable to pay the very expensive processes required to obtain official hajj visas.
Because they are unable to utilize the air-conditioned facilities that Saudi authorities have supplied along the Haj route, these unregistered pilgrims are put in danger.
A diplomat who talked with AFP on Tuesday claimed that a significant number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims had “absolutely” increased the number of Egyptian deaths.
An Egyptian official overseeing the nation’s hajj mission claimed that “irregular pilgrims caused great chaos in the Egyptian pilgrims’ camps, causing the collapse of services.”
“The pilgrims went without food, water, or air conditioning for a long time.”
They perished “due to the heat since the majority of people had nowhere” to seek cover.
Prior to the Haj, hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims were removed from Mecca, according to Saudi officials earlier this month.
Senegal, Indonesia, and Iran are among the other nations that have reported Haj incidents involving fatalities.
The majority of nations have not disclosed the number of deaths linked to heat.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel declared on Tuesday that health preparations for the Haj had “been successfully carried out,” averting significant illness outbreaks and other hazards to public health.
“Virtual consultations were given by health officials to over 5,800 pilgrims, mainly for illnesses related to heat, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the possibility of an increase in cases,” according to SPA.
Conclusion
The rising death toll during the Hajj underscores the severe impact of climate change on this sacred pilgrimage. Health measures like virtual consultations have proven vital in managing heat-related illnesses. As temperatures continue to climb, it is imperative to strengthen these efforts to protect pilgrims. The well-being of millions depends on proactive and innovative health solutions.
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