In a media interview, Fahd al-Jalajel, the health minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announced on Sunday, June 23, that the death toll for the Haj 1445 AH-2024 season had reached 1,301. Al-Jalajel mentioned that 83 percent of the deceased were pilgrims who had embarked on their journey without the necessary permits.
These unauthorized pilgrims endured long distances in direct sunlight without proper shelter or comfort, leading to casualties among the elderly and chronically ill individuals as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The minister also stated that the health system dealt with numerous cases of heat stress, with some individuals still receiving medical care.
Al-Jalajel expressed condolences to the deceased and their families, emphasizing that proper procedures were followed for identification, burial, and honoring the deceased, including the issuance of death certificates.
Additionally, he highlighted that 1.3 million preventive services were offered upon arrival, covering early detection, vaccinations, and medical assistance. Furthermore, the healthcare system provided a range of services, including over 30,000 ambulance services, open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterization, dialysis, and emergency care.
The implementation of 95 air ambulance operations facilitated advanced health services in medical cities throughout the Kingdom. With nearly 6,500 beds and rooms available, the system also developed devices for the swift and efficient rescue of affected individuals struggling with heat stress.
Note worthy is the fact that over 465,000 specialized treatment services were provided, with 141,000 catering to individuals who did not have official authorization for the Haj pilgrimage.
Arab diplomats reported on Wednesday, June 19, that at least 1,081 pilgrims from approximately ten countries had lost their lives during this year's Haj pilgrimage. Among the casualties were pilgrims from various nationalities, including Egyptians, Indians, Indonesians, Jordanians, Tunisians, Pakistanis, Kurdistan Iraqis, Iranians, and Senegalese.
