Officials Gear up for Hajj Season
The Jeddah Islamic Port is set to receive today the "Magador" ferry that carries 900 pilgrims from Sudan, the first group of pilgrims to arrive by sea this year.
The second set of pilgrims to arrive by sea next Saturday will be composed of 1,300 Egyptians, the Saudi Gazette reported.
Capt. Sahir Tahlawi, Director of Jeddah Islamic Port, said they are ready to receive all incoming pilgrims, estimated at 35,000 this year.
He said the process of arrival for the pilgrims has been simplified, with arrival stations improved and updated with the latest technologies.
Fahd Al-Idwani, Director of the HajJ department in the Port, said that a total of 26 ships from Sudan and Egypt will be arriving at the port until December 14.
He added that the Pilgrims City in the port is ready to host 8,000 pilgrims at a time, providing them with services from international communications to accommodations in the city prior to their departure for Madina in air conditioned busses.
Work in the city for the pilgrims has been divided into three shifts to assure continuous service through the season.
Col. Awad Al-Qarni, Director of the Port's Passport Department's Bureau, said that 26 counters in the passengers' terminals are equipped with advanced computer systems to assure fast processing of pilgrim's documents. The use of the electronic fingerprint system and taking of pictures of all the pilgrims to verify their documents will be implemented.
The Health Surveillance Department in the port will also put on stand by newly obtained ambulances equipped with advanced devices. A vaccination plan to immunize all pilgrims against possible health hazards will be enforced.
Some seven hospitals and more than 84 health centers in all the regions that will be visited by pilgrims have been prepared for the pilgrims. An additional 9,000 health workers were recruited in these facilities to augment the workforce.
To meet the increased demand for water in advance of the arrival of the pilgrims, the Ministry of Water has upped Makkah's daily share of water during the season to reach 315,000 cubic meters.
The three Ashiab centers in Makkah will also be operational to assure the continuous supply of water tanks.