JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense has announced the completion of its preparations and contingency plans to ensure the preservation of the safety of pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj season in Makkah and Madinah
The preparations for the General Emergency Plan for Hajj have been personally and continuously followed-up by the Director General of the Civil Defense Sulaiman Al-Amr, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
The directorate pointed out that more than 18,000 civil defense officers and personnel have been mobilized, supported by more than 3,000 machines and sophisticated equipment, to provide the highest security level and minimize risks for worshipers at the Prophet’s Mosque.
The plan falls in line with the efforts of the government and King Salman, also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to protect pilgrims annually, maintain their safety and facilitating their performance of rituals.
The plan includes full readiness to deal with 13 kinds of virtual risks that may occur during Hajj, which arose through in-depth studies and workshops specialized in monitoring and analyzing risks, in light of climate changes and environmental developments. The plan includes preparing detailed scenarios for dealing with each type of risk and conducting a hypothesis experiment to measure the effectiveness of confrontational plans in practice in relevant locations in the holy city.
The potential risks of Hajj vary from season to season and if construction projects are carried out for the convenience of pilgrims, as well as annual weather changes that may coincide with the Hajj season.
Therefore, the civil defense plans accommodate all these variables to monitor and analyze the expected risks, whether natural or man-made, and then take practical measures to deal with them.
Civil defense plans for Hajj this year included some foreseeable risks, whether natural, such as “high temperatures, torrential rains, hurricanes, landslides, diseases or epidemics” or industrial, such as “fires, contaminants or the dangers of mass crowds.”
The civil defense stressed the importance of training personnel on the potential risks associated with towers and tall buildings to raise their awareness in implementing evacuation plans with the assistance of special fire teams linked to these facilities.
The plan also includes working and coordinating with other concerned authorities, such as medical teams, particularly regarding previous dangerous locations or critical places around the holy city.
The authorities in the Jamarat facility have also been assigned to deal with these risks in order to participate in transporting the injured and moving them from dangerous to safe places. Then, the civil defense, along with the Saudi Red Crescent, will coordinate with the health authorities in the field hospitals and transferred to the required places.
Sixty peak evacuation points have been allocated, monitored by an officer and groups of individuals in the event of any threat to pilgrims’ safety, stampedes, or anyone who may require medical assistance.
The Special Civil Defense Emergency Forces have a great responsibility in dealing with accidents and risks that require specialized skills, highly developed mechanisms, modernity and rapid intervention capabilities.
The Civil Defense also completed preparations for crowd management and other situations by deploying a large number of officers and individuals to deal with any emergency case on all floors and entrances of the Jamarat facility and the stone throwing walls 24 hours a day, particularly during peak times.
The civil defense forces have been provided with mechanisms and equipment to facilitate rapid responses in the event of a fire, and a number of motorcycle teams have been deployed, equipped with fire and rescue devices, which have the potential to maneuver in crowded roads and sites and narrow streets.
Makkah has been divided into the civil defense plan for the Hajj pilgrimage to several axes and covered by all civil defense services, in addition to the intensification of units, field teams and teams.
Under the plan, Makkah has been divided into several axes for the Hajj pilgrimage, covering all civil defense services, in addition to intensifying units, field teams and personnel.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense concludes contingency plans for 2018 Hajj season
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense concludes contingency plans for 2018 Hajj season
- The directorate said that more than 18,000 civil defense officers and personnel have been mobilized
- The plan includes full readiness to deal with 13 kinds of virtual risks that may occur during Hajj
Deal to enhance heritage conservation in AlUla, China
- Agreement unites expertise in cultural preservation and tourism growth
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Dunhuang Academy have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cultural, tourism and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and China.
This partnership marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia-China relations, combining the academy’s 80 years of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with the commission’s dedication to preserving AlUla’s cultural heritage.
The academy manages the Magao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu province, famous for their murals and sculptures that reflect Silk Road cultural influences.
The agreement unites the organizations as guardians of unique heritage, history and traditions, according to a recent press release.
The academy’s successful preservation of the Magao Grottoes has earned praise from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Chinese government.
Both entities will collaborate on a conservation program for historic sites and artifacts in AlUla and western China. They will also organize academic exhibitions and exchange programs for staff and scholars.
Silvia Barbone, vice president of strategic partnerships at the commission, said that China and Saudi Arabia share a rich legacy that has connected people and places across vast distances and centuries.
“Today, our work in global heritage is strengthened by successful collaborations with leading institutions and destinations.”
Barbone added that the academy joins the commission in “our goal to establish northwest Arabia as a hub for research, exploration, and discovery in culture, heritage, tourism, and more, as we drive the regeneration of AlUla.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority, where AlUla was prominently featured. The event, held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden in October 2024, highlighted AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
Su Bomin, director of Dunhuang Academy, said this collaboration was a significant step in “bridging our cultural histories and advancing heritage conservation efforts.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we aim to foster cultural exchange, deepen mutual understanding, and create innovative programs that will benefit communities in both China and Saudi Arabia.”
In January 2024, the “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition, featuring artifacts from the commission’s archaeological collection on public display for the first time, was hosted at Beijing’s Forbidden City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors, the exhibition followed the signing of a partnership agreement between the commission and the Cultural Heritage Administration of China’s Henan province.
Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief
- Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.
The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.
Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims
- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.
The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.
Citrus festival shows agricultural diversity, economic potential in Najran
- The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential
RIYADH: The 14th Najran National Citrus Festival highlights the region’s agricultural investment and marketing diversity, which offers economic returns for farmers and investors alike, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The festival at King Abdulaziz Park walkway in Najran is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the region.
Participants including farmers, agricultural experts and investors showed innovative solutions and highlighted the region’s robust citrus production.
Hamad Al-Dakman, the director of the agricultural prevention and guidance department at the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development, Estidamah, in an interview with SPA emphasized the center’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
By selecting optimal plant seeds and trees, the center aims to enhance citrus production efficiency while advancing water and energy conservation technologies, Al-Dakman said.
He noted the importance of knowledge transfer and partnerships in supporting the agricultural sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s food-security goals.
Similarly, Najran Association Green’s chairman, Raf’an Al-Amer underscored the association’s efforts to expand vegetation cover, having planted more than 60,000 trees in the past four years.
Plans are underway to plant an additional 500,000 trees by 2027 in collaboration with government and private entities, contributing to the Kingdom’s Green Vision, Al-Amer said.
Farmers and investors were enthusiastic about the festival.
Farmer Ibrahim Saleh Al-Sinan praised the event for addressing farmers’ needs, marketing their products, and allowing visitors to sample and purchase citrus fruits directly.
Agricultural investor Abdullah Fahd Al-Waili highlighted the region’s favorable conditions for citrus farming, including fertile soil, a suitable climate and water availability.
Al-Waili, whose farm in Khbash covers 4 million sq. meters with more than 50,000 citrus trees, noted the economic viability of agricultural investment in the region.
The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential, supporting farmers, and driving sustainable agricultural development.
Saudi fund commits $80m for cancer care expansion in Turkmenistan
- The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress
RIYADH: CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad signed an $80 million development loan agreement with Rahimberdi Jepbarov, chairman of the Turkmenistan State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.
The financing supports a project to improve tumor treatment services and establish cancer treatment centers in Turkmenistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Ambassador to Turkmenistan Said Osman Suwaid attended the event.
The project will enhance healthcare by building and equipping three specialized cancer treatment centers with up to 500 medical beds in different regions.
The centers will feature advanced medical equipment to improve healthcare quality, SPA added.
The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress.
It underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable development and ensuring lasting prosperity, SPA reported.
During his visit to Turkmenistan, Al-Marshad also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to discuss strengthening development cooperation in various sectors.
Meanwhile, the Saudi fund’s Deputy CEO Faisal Al-Qahtani participated in the inauguration of the Busaiteen Bridge, part of the Bahrain Northern Road Project.
The $250 million project, funded through a grant from the Saudi government, aims to ease traffic congestion and boost investment and economic opportunities in Bahrain.
Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa attended the event.
The project is a vital part of Bahrain’s transportation infrastructure, with the Saudi fund collaborating closely with the Ministry of Works for its successful completion.
The Saudi fund’s partnership with Bahrain spans 48 years, during which it has financed 30 projects in sectors like energy, transportation, and social infrastructure. These initiatives have contributed to Bahrain’s sustainable development and economic growth.
