Prince Mit'eb inspects Jamrat bridge MINA – Prince Mit'eb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, made an inspection tour of Jamrat bridge. He was briefed on the third phase of the project of the bridge due to be implemented at a total cost of SR4 billion. It will enable the pilgrims to perform the ritual smoothly. – SPA Squatters in pedestrian tunnels warned MINA – The Civil Defense has warned pilgrims against squatting in pedestrian tunnels. It said the squatting hinders the movement of pilgrims resulting in accidents. The Civil Defense urged pilgrims to follow the safety instructions posted on all roads and tunnels in Makkah and the holy sites. It also urged pilgrims not to throw waste in pedestrian tunnels. – SG Invitation for parents of conjoined twins RIYADH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has ordered to host parents of the Iraqi and Moroccan siamese twins, who were recently separated at the National Guard's King Abdul Aziz Medical City here, to perform Haj this year at his personal expense. The parents of the twins have expressed appreciation for this noble gesture from the Monarch. – SPA Gas cylinders banned in holy sites MINA – The Civil Defense has urged pilgrims not to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the holy sites as they pose serious dangers threatening the safety of pilgrims. Major General Sulaiman Bin Abdullah Al-Amr, Commander of Civil Defense forces in Haj said there was coordination with the security bodies to prevent entry of cooking liquefied petroleum gas cylinders into the holy sites. Safety teams from Civil Defense are making inspection tours of tents to ensure that they are free from such gas cylinders, arrest violators, confiscate gas cylinders and impose necessary fines, he said. – SG 14,000 blood bags made available MINA – The Ministry of Health has made available enough quantities of blood bags for the pilgrims. More than 14,000 units of blood and blood derivatives have been placed at the disposal of the hospitals in the Western Region. These quantities of blood can meet the requirements of pilgrims who number three to four millions. Director General of Laboratories and Blood Banks Ibrahim Al-Omran said in addition to the labrotaries of Jeddah there are laboratories at the holy sites for conducting routine medical check-up as well as making blood unit available to the pilgrims. He said the Kingdom no longer imports blood from abroad, and the blood banks in the Kingdom depend on local blood donation. – SPA 121,678 patients treated at health centers MAKKAH – The number of patients who approached hospitals and health centers for treatment in Makkah in the past five days reached to 121,678 patients. The Ministry of Health said that 62,669 patients visited health centers and 59,009 patients reported to hospitals. – SPA 100,000 guide maps for pilgrims MINA – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj Research at Umm Al-Qura University has issued 100,000 copies of the guidance map. These copies have been sent to all government bodies and Tawafah establishments to distribute them among the pilgrims. The Institute's dean, Dr. Thamir Bin Hamdan Al-Harbi, said the map consists of strategic locations in Makkah's Central Zone, Arafat and Mina. It also includes the locations needed by pilgrims, in addition to historical sites. “The map includes locations of government bodies and Tawafah companies and shows the Jamrat Bridge and camps for pilgrims. – Okaz/SG 250 volunteers active MINA – About 250 Saudi volunteers are working round the clock with the Red Crescent Society's field teams in this Haj season. The Red Crescent has arranged for the transportation of the volunteers. About 50 Saudi female volunteers have been deployed to assist the officials serving pilgrims at the Grand Mosque.
