[Field Story] Saudi Arabia drastically strengthens Hajj safety measures and crackdown on unauthorized pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia has significantly strengthened safety measures for this year's Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). This is because more than 1,300 people died last year due to the heat wave.

According to the Financial Times (FT) and others on the 2nd (local time), at least 1 million people are expected to gather in Mecca for this year's Hajj, which begins on the 4th. Saudi authorities are implementing comprehensive measures such as blocking unauthorized pilgrims, responding to the heat wave, and preventing crowd accidents.

Starting this year, to participate in Hajj, you must obtain a separate Hajj visa and permit from the government's official platform (Nusuk). You cannot enter Mecca with a tourist or family visa. Citizens of certain countries are only permitted a 30-day single-entry visa. Issuance of tourist and business visas will be temporarily suspended during the Hajj period.

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This year, children under the age of 12 are completely prohibited from participating in Hajj. This is because it was judged that children are at high risk of accidents due to crowds and safety issues.

The Saudi government has significantly strengthened its heat wave response measures, such as planting 10,000 trees, installing 400 cooling zones (cooling facilities), expanding mist and drinking fountains, and introducing air-conditioned tents, in preparation for the heat wave that is approaching 50 degrees (℃).

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An artificial intelligence (AI) and drone-based real-time crowd monitoring system has also been introduced to prevent crowd accidents. The AI ​​analyzes the footage taken by the drone to monitor crowds and movement in real time, and immediately issues an alert when a danger sign is detected. Since the stampede disaster in 2015 that killed more than 2,300 people, the crowd management system has become the core of Hajj safety.

In addition, vaccinations against meningitis, etc. have become mandatory for Hajj participants starting this year.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is fostering Hajj and Umrah (minor pilgrimage) tourism as a key element of economic diversification, and is aiming to attract 30 million Umrah pilgrims by 2030.

Source: Edaily

“The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction.” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)

Father God, last year, more than 1,300 pilgrims who came to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to make a pilgrimage died from heat waves, and this year, with at least 1 million people expected to gather in Mecca for the Hajj, Saudi authorities have announced their intention to block unauthorized pilgrims, respond to heat waves, and prevent crowd accidents based on AI.

Please have mercy on the Saudi Arabian people who have lived in the thick darkness of Islam for over 1,400 years in this place where Islam was created and many Muslims from all over the world gather to make a pilgrimage to Mecca every year.

Please forgive the sin of not being able to abandon idolatry, which God abhors, and still making many Muslims come to Mecca.

Would you unite the Saudi Church and the Arab Church to pray and work hard to spread the gospel for this cause, so that the curtain of Islam that separates the Saudi people from God may be burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Please remove the lies that have been covering the eyes of the Saudi people and grant them the grace of salvation so that they can see Jesus, the truth.

When the Saudi people give water to the thirsty and feed the bread of life to those who are fleeing, as the word of God has permitted among the Saudi people, let all Muslims who visit Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage also meet the living God here and abandon the abominable idolatry and be restored as holy children of God!

Now, let Islam that covers the Saudi people depart and may this nation rise up as a holy priestly nation that will lead all Arabs and all nations to the Lord and prepare for the coming of the Jesus!