The annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca has ended on a somber note, with Saudi authorities confirming the death of over 1,300 pilgrims, most of whom were unauthorized and subjected to extreme heat conditions. The Saudi Ministry of Health, led by Fahd Al-Jalajel, reported that the deceased faced temperatures as high as 52 degrees Celsius. Despite efforts to provide medical care, with over 465,000 specialized services rendered, including assistance to 141,000 unauthorized pilgrims, the healthcare system was overwhelmed.A significant number of the deceased were Egyptian, with reports indicating at least 672 fatalities from Egypt. The crisis has led to the revocation of licenses for 16 travel agencies that facilitated the travel of unregistered pilgrims, and they are now under investigation. The Saudi government has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect pilgrims, particularly those who were unauthorized.This year’s Hajj saw about 1.8 million pilgrims, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. The high cost of the pilgrimage, estimated at around $5,000 per person, has led many to seek alternative, often illegal, means to fulfill their religious duty. The international community and Saudi authorities are now tasked with addressing the urgent need for measures to protect pilgrims from the challenges posed by extreme temperatures and the effects of climate change.
Key points
- Over 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj in Mecca, with extreme heat as the main cause.
- The majority of the deceased were unauthorized pilgrims, many of whom were elderly with chronic illnesses.
- Saudi health services provided care to hundreds of thousands, but the scale of the tragedy has prompted international concern and calls for action.
