KSA elected chair of 8th session of ESCWA Beirut – Saudi Arabia, represented by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water and Electricity for Water Affairs Ali Bin Saad Al-Takhais, has been elected as chairman of the eighth session of the Committee of Water Resources, an affiliate of Economic and Social Committee for West Asia (ESCWA) currently held in Beirut. The meeting discussed the potential impacts of the climate change on water resources in the ESCWA region, possible adaptation to the change and actions for addressing these effects. – SPA Haj pilgrim population up by 2% Madina – The Secretariat of Haj Committee in Madina said the number of pilgrims who arrived in Madina until Wednesday amounted to 209,532, showing a 2 percent increase from last year. The report issued on Thursday showed that the number of pilgrims, who departed from Madina until Wednesday amounted to 53,289 pilgrims. The number of pilgrims still in Madina amounted to 156,220 pilgrims, 5 percent more than last year. – SPA A Haj free of epidemic disease Riyadh - The Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Bureau of the World Health Organization Dr. Hussein Al-Gezairy has congratulated and commended the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Manie and the Ministry of Health for the Haj season this year, 1429H, being free of epidemic diseases. He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Health and its outstanding performance in the service and care of pilgrims despite the increased number of pilgrims. Dr. Al-Gezairy said the outbreak of diseases were accomplished in part by the Ministry of Health's plan to print booklets about health education in order to increase awareness of the risks to pilgrims. He commended the leading role played by the Kingdom to serve Muslims under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Crown Prince. – SPA Passport officials want Haj pilgrims out Jeddah – The Directorate General of Passports has requested all pilgrims who have come to perform Haj rituals to leave the county, and said failure to leave the country at the fixed time will constitute a violation to the regulations. In a statement the Directorate General of Passports was warned against extending assistance to those who remain illegally by lodging, employing or transporting them, and any of these constitute a flagrant violation. Violators may be both fined up to SR100,000 or imprisoned for a period of six months. – SPA Lebanese premier praises Kingdom's aid By Ziyad Eitani BEIRUT – Fuad Al-Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon, said the Kingdom's $1 billion investment has enabled the Lebanese government to secure indemnities to the affected Lebanese citizens and rebuilding the country's infrastructure. Al-Siniora said without the Kingdom's investment Lebanon would have not paid the compensations to those affected by the damage, adding “The Kingdom also donated the construction of 55,000 residential units and rebuilding of four villages in the south.” He said Arab countries especially Saudi Arabia have helped Lebanon to effectively overcome its economic difficulties and alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people.
