Egypt enforces cancellation of Hajj tourism permits for unauthorized pilgrimages following alleged numerous fatalities.
during a weekend cabinet gathering, a decision was made to scrutinize questionable practices of tourism companies, following a report that outlined such misconducts. This comes in the wake of hundreds of global pilgrims perishing in intolerable heat.
As per the latest reports by Reuters and others, up to 600 Egyptians were said to have perished during the pilgrimage, while the country's official count stands at 31. A CNN summary states a close to 500 deaths during Hajj, a figure that may rise.
The reviewed report, presented to the cabinet, accused some operators of providing incorrect visas, preventing pilgrims from entering Mecca and instead compelling them to traverse desert roads on foot. Moreover, it criticized certain companies for inadequate lodging, exposing tourists to the excessive heat.
In the meeting, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased pilgrims, vowing to extend needed support to them.
quota systems determine Hajj permit allocation to countries, and Saudi Arabia mandates each pilgrim to legally obtain one of the 1.8 million available licenses for accessing Mecca.
However, the high cost of these licenses, amounting to several thousand US dollars, prompts numerous pilgrims to attempt illegal entry, leading to unorganized travel without air-conditioned buses or easy access to water and food sources.
The Hajj timing coincides with soaring temperatures in Saudi Arabia due to the Islamic lunar calendar. This year's journey took place under extreme heat conditions of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).
Ahmed, a 44-year-old from Indonesia, shared his experiences with CNN, reporting multiple instances of poor and deceased pilgrims along the way, covered with white cloths.
"Almost every few hundred meters, I saw a pilgrim lying dead," Ahmed said. He added that there were no health workers or ambulances in sight and every distribution of water was quickly overrun by the pilgrims.
During the pilgrimage, the faithful undertake various rituals in and around Mecca, frequently requiring prolonged hours of walking under extreme heat conditions every day.
The precise death toll for this year's Hajj remains uncertain and is expected to rise, as each country independently announces the demise of their citizens. Furthermore, the authorities are only aware of registered pilgrims who officially traveled to Mecca and concern grows about the unregistered pilgrims' fates.
Read also:
The Middle East has been a focus of concern due to the high number of fatalities during the Hajj pilgrimage, with the World Health Organization urging Saudi Arabia to improve safety measures.
Additionally, there have been calls from various countries to investigate the role of tour operators in the incident, as many pilgrims from across the Middle East and the World experienced difficulties during their journey.
