Saudi health minister hails success of Hajj plans

Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia Fahad Al-Jalajel. (SPA)
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Updated 18 June 2024
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Saudi health minister hails success of Hajj plans

  • Fahad Al-Jalajel: Despite the large number of pilgrims and the challenges posed by high temperatures, we experienced no outbreaks or public health threats
  • Al-Jalajel praised the Supreme Hajj Committee for its measures to protect pilgrims from extreme heat and other health risks during rituals

RIYADH: The Saudi minister of health has hailed the success of preparation for Hajj after no outbreaks or threats to public health were recorded during the annual pilgrimage.

Fahad Al-Jalajel said in a statement: “I am pleased to announce the success of this year’s Hajj health plans. Despite the large number of pilgrims and the challenges posed by high temperatures, we experienced no outbreaks or public health threats.

“The health system was equipped with 189 hospitals, health centers and mobile clinics, offering a bed capacity exceeding 6,500. Over 40,000 medical, technical, and administrative staff and volunteers were mobilized, supported by more than 370 ambulances, seven air ambulances, 12 laboratories and 60 trucks.

“We also provided more than 1,860 medical supplies and, in a significant move, deployed three mobile medical warehouses across the holy sites,” he added, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

More than 390,000 pilgrims received healthcare services during the pilgrimage this year, of which 28 underwent open heart surgery, 720 received cardiac catheters and more than 1,169 had dialysis sessions, the minister said.

Virtual health services through Seha Virtual Hospital were provided to more than 5,800 pilgrims, and heat stress cases were managed with appropriate medical care. Proactive awareness efforts helped limit the increase in cases.

The minister attributed the success of the plans to the integration among all government agencies, including the Makkah Health Cluster of the Health Holding Company, the Red Crescent Authority, the Public Health Authority (Weqaya), the Food and Drug Authority, and significant contributions from the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), the Health Volunteering Center and other entities in the Kingdom.

Al-Jalajel praised the Supreme Hajj Committee for its measures to protect pilgrims from extreme heat and other health risks during rituals. He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior for its active role in executing the health plans.

The achievement reflects the integration of all government entities and preparation for the Hajj season within the framework of the Guests of God Program, the minister said.

He highlighted the Central Hajj Committee’s recommendation for pilgrims to avoid peak heat times, saying the guidance contributed to maintaining safety and managing heat stress cases.


Kingdom’s Masam project clears 1,058 bombs from Yemen

Updated 6 sec ago
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Kingdom’s Masam project clears 1,058 bombs from Yemen

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project for Landmine Clearance, or Masam, removed 1,058 explosive devices from several parts of Yemen during the first week of March.

The project of the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief cleared 1,034 unexploded ordnances and 24 anti-tank mines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Since its launch, the Masam project has removed 484,401 explosive devices across the country.


Thousands benefit from KSrelief food aid

Updated 13 min 50 sec ago
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Thousands benefit from KSrelief food aid

  • The aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Etaam Ramadan food distribution project

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief recently distributed more than 1,900 food aid parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

In Mauritania’s Tiaret district of Nouakchott, 3,390 people benefitted from 565 food parcels.

Also, 751 packages were handed out in the Karaan district of Somalia’s Banadir governorate, benefiting 4,506 people.

In addition, 590 parcels were distributed in the Romania cities of Bucharest and Constanta, benefiting 2,950 people.

The aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Etaam Ramadan food distribution project.


Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s Gaza electricity cut 

Updated 11 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s Gaza electricity cut 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s move to cut electricity to the Gaza Strip in what the Kingdom described as a practice of “collective punishment” against Palestinians in Gaza.

The Kingdom stressed its categorical rejection of Israeli violations of international humanitarian law, a foreign ministry statement said.

It reiterated its call on the international community to take urgent measures to restore electricity and the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip immediately without conditions or restrictions.

The Kingdom “renewed its call to activate international accountability mechanisms for these serious violations,” the statement concluded.

Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, officials said Sunday, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water for part of the arid territory.

It also suspended last week supplies of goods to the territory of more than 2 million Palestinians, an echo of the siege it imposed in the earliest days of the war.


Saudi Arabia welcomes Syrian agreement in northeast

Updated 11 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes Syrian agreement in northeast

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed an agreement between the interim Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that controls the country’s northeast.

The Kingdom praised the measures taken by the Syrian leadership to safeguard domestic peace in Syria and efforts made to complete the path of building state institutions, a Saudi foreign ministry statement said on Monday.

The deal includes a ceasefire and the merging of the main US-backed force there into the Syrian army.

The deal was signed by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The deal to be implemented by the end of the year would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkiye, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the central government’s control. Prisons where about 9,000 suspected members of the Daesh group are also expected to come under government control.

— With input from AP


Saudi crown prince, US Secretary of State discuss regional developments

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
Updated 11 March 2025
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Saudi crown prince, US Secretary of State discuss regional developments

  • Rubio in Kingdom ahead of crucial talks with Ukraine aimed at ending conflict with Russia

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday evening. 

Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier on Monday ahead of crucial talks with Ukraine aimed at ending three years of conflict with Russia.

They reviewed relations between the two countries and opportunities to enhance and develop them in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also discussed the latest regional and international developments, exchanged views on them, as well as efforts made toward achieving security and stability, SPA added.

The reception was attended by Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor.

On the Saudi side, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Saudi ambassador to Washington, Princess Reema bint Bandar, were also in attendance.

The top US diplomat is in Jeddah ahead of the talks with Ukrainian officials expected on Tuesday, leading a delegation that also includes Waltz.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in the Kingdom on Monday.