About 800 cameras have been installed in the Grand Mosque in Makkah to monitor the millions of pilgrims coming for completion of their Haj rituals. These cameras will help in taking the appropriate decisions for crowd management, said Maj. Gen. Yusuf Mattar, Commander of the Haram Security Forces and Supervisor of the Joint Forces. Maj. Gen. Mattar further said that 6,000 security men from four security agencies are working together to secure the routes for nearly 2.5 million pilgrims, who are expected to leave the holy sites after performing the farewell Tawaf (Tawaf Al-Wada') Wednesday 12th of Dhul Hijja. He said there are alternative emergency plans in case of crises and in direct coordination with the Jamrat Security commanders and the Command and Control Center so that the departing pilgrims are sorted out to guarantee the safety of other pilgrims. As to the size of the field force that would manage the crowds directly in the Haram area, he said 6,000 security men from the joint forces comprising the National Guard, Special Emergency Force, Civil Defense Forces, the Haram Police and Security Force would participate in these functions. All these come under the Haram Security under a central command via the Central Operations Room inside the Grand Mosque. This force will function from the early dawn taking field positions at points for sorting out the large crowds on the peripheries of the courtyards of the Grand Mosque. Maj. Gen. Mattar said they will ensure the proper and precise management of the situation through the 800 cameras fitted at different locations in the Grand Mosque. This will help them make the right decision depending upon the situation. As to coordination with the commanders of the Jamrat Bridge and the Command and Control rooms to determine the number of pilgrims who will be leaving the holy sites on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Mattar said: “There is direct coordination with the Command and Control Room in Mina. The capacity of the Jamrat Bridge is 300,000 pilgrims per hour and the capacity of the Tawaf area is less than this. Therefore, we will sort out those leaving on Wednesday through 137 points distributed at the gates of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. The mass of pilgrims doing Tawaf will be transmitted via LCD screens distributed in the courtyards of the Haram. These screens will show the possibility of going for Tawaf or not. Pilgrims will also be able to perform Tawaf on the first and second floors. Also, they will be able to use escalators to reach the roof and perform Tawaf from there.” Speaking on the alternative plans in case of crises, he said, “We hope the pilgrims will perform the farewell Tawaf according to plan without the need for resorting to alternatives. However, we have taken into account any emergency and an alternative emergency plan has been laid down for any contingency.”
