Mecca: why hundreds of people have died in this year’s pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, known as haj, was marred this year by the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims of different nationalities.

The hajj, one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, attracts millions of people to Saudi Arabia annually.

This religious obligation, a once in a lifetime trip for muslimsofficially ended this year on Wednesday, June 19.

The AFP news agency reported the death of at least 922 people, the majority due to the high temperatures, which were around 50ºC.

The BBC could not independently verify the reported death toll. Saudi Arabian authorities did not provide an official response to a request for comment on the deaths and criticism of the organizers.

However, they reported the success of their health plans for this year’s pilgrimage.

“Haj season is free of outbreaks or threats to public health“despite the large number of pilgrims and the challenges posed by high temperatures,” Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al Jallayel said in a statement.

The authorities indicated that approximately 1.83 million pilgrims participated in the ritual this year, of which 1.6 million arrived from abroad. Among the large number of visitors from other countries were Pakistanis, Jordanians and Tunisians.

The BBC investigated the factors that may have led to the deaths of so many people in this year’s hajj:

The scorching heat in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures that reach 51.8ºC in the shadeis a major factor behind the high number of deaths.

Despite warnings from the Saudi Ministry of Health to avoid exposure to heat and stay hydrated, many pilgrims were victims of heat stress and sunstroke.

An Arab diplomat attributed almost all of the the 658 deaths of Egyptian citizens reported so far. Many of these pilgrims lacked the proper permits for the hajj, potentially limiting their access to organizational support and resources.

“Only by the mercy of God did I survivebecause it was incredibly hot,” Aisha Idris, a Nigerian pilgrim, told the BBC.

“They closed all the doors of the Kaaba“, he stated in reference to the stone building located in the center of the Holy Mosque, the most important temple of Islam. “We had to use the roof, which was scorching.”

“I had to use an umbrella and constantly get wet with Zam Zam water“he said in reference to the Holy Water which is extracted from a well in Mecca.

“I thought I was going to faint and someone had to help me with an umbrella. “I didn’t expect the heat to be so intense,” she added.

The death of a pilgrim named Naim from heat stroke left her family searching for answers.

“Communication with my mother was suddenly cut off. We spent days searching for her, only to learn that she had died during the hajj,” said her son, who said that her relatives would honor her wish for be buried in Mecca.

Pilgrims face risks due to heat, strenuous physical activity, vast open spaces and the fact that many are elderly or may be sick.

Heat-related deaths during hajj are not new and have been recorded since the 15th century.

Last year, Saudi officials reported more than 2,000 cases of heat stress among pilgrims.

Scientists warn that global warming will worsen conditions.

“Hajj has been taking place in a warm climate for more than a millennium, but the climate crisis is exacerbating these conditions,” Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, a climate scientist and advisor to Climate Analytics, told the news agency. Reuters.

Their research suggests that with a 1.5°C increase in global temperature above pre-industrial levels, The risk of heat stroke during hajj could increase five-fold.

Current projections indicate that the world could reach 1.5°C warming by the 2030s, compounding challenges for future pilgrims.

According to several testimonies, mismanagement by the Saudi authorities exacerbated the extreme conditions, causing a crisis in many areas designated for pilgrims.

“There was no air conditioning in our stores in Mecca”said Amina (not her real name), a 38-year-old woman from Islamabad. “The installed refrigerators did not have water most of the time.”

“There was such a suffocating atmosphere in these stores that we were drenched in sweat and it was a terrible experience“he added.

“Many fainted due to overcrowding and overheating in the tents,” said Fauziah, a pilgrim from Jakarta. “We waited for dinner until the evening, so people in the tents were hungry.”

The pilgrims were also forced to walk long distances in the intense heata situation that some attributed to roadblocks and a lack of transportation.

“They put us on a 7 kilometer path without water or shade”said a Pakistani pilgrim who preferred anonymity. “The police had set up barricades, forcing us to walk unnecessarily long distances.”

He specified that there were Saudi government vehicles, but they were not used for pilgrims who were sick and unconscious due to the heat.

“In the fields, people were kept like chickens or animals on a farm. “There was no space to pass between the beds and some bathrooms were inadequate for hundreds of people.”

The Saudi Transport Authority assured that it had more than 27,000 buses to transport pilgrims.

“This is my 18th hajj. In my experience, the Saudi controllers are not facilitators. They control, but they do not help,” said Muhammad Acha, organizer of a private pilgrimage group.

During the summer, A typical pilgrim may have to walk at least 15 kilometers a day. This exposes them to heat stroke, fatigue and lack of water, Acha said.

“Earlier, turns to access tents were available, but now all such routes have been closed. As a result, an ordinary pilgrim, even if staying in a category A tent in Zone I, he has to walk 2.5 kilometers in the summer heat to get to his store,” he explained.

“If there is an emergency on this route, no one will arrive for 30 minutes. “There are no life-saving measures, no water points along these roads,” Acha added.

Saudi authorities say they provided additional medical services for the hajj. However, many pilgrims claim that they did not receive adequate care.

According to several pilgrims, there were no ambulances or first aid available for those suffering from heat exhaustion or other health problems.

Amina said a colleague needed oxygen due to claustrophobia and an ambulance took more than 25 minutes to arrive despite her desperate pleas.

“Finally an ambulance came and the doctor didn’t even see him for two seconds. “He said nothing happened to him and he left,” he added.

However, the Saudi Minister of Health highlighted that 189 hospitals, health centers and mobile clinics were enabled, with a combined capacity of more than 6,500 beds, and more than 40,000 people for medical, technical, administrative and volunteer teams.

To perform the hajj, a pilgrim must apply for a special visa. But some people try to take the tour without proper documentation.

The issue of “unofficial hajj” is believed to contribute to the excess deaths.

Pilgrims without proper documentation often avoid authorities, even when they need help. In fact, the authorities blame them in part for the overcrowding in the stores.

“We suspect that those using non-haj visas infiltrated the pilgrimage areas,” said Mustolih Siradj, chairman of Indonesia’s National Haj and Umrah Commission.

“Anyone who does not have a Haj visa will not be tolerated and will have to return to their country,” Saad Al Qurashi, adviser to the National Committee for Haj and Umrah, told the BBC.

Many pilgrims go to the hajj towards the end of their life, either after saving for many years or in the hope that their death will coincide with the pilgrimage.

The Al Baqi Cemetery in Saudi Arabia was founded by the Prophet Muhammad.making it one of the most sacred cemeteries in the Islamic tradition.

When a pilgrim dies during the journey, his death is reported to the Hach Mission. Bracelets or neck tags are used to confirm his identity. A medical certificate is then issued and Saudi Arabia issues a death certificate.

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