MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for supervising the services offered to pilgrims during this year’s Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Khalid said all Saudis were proud of the efforts made to help pilgrims during their stay in the Kingdom.
He thanked local and international media representatives for their coverage of the pilgrimage, telling a press conference in Mina that the number of Hajj pilgrims this year reached 2,489,406.
Of these, 1,855,027 were from outside the Kingdom and 634,379 were from inside Saudi Arabia.
He said that the number of people violating Hajj permit and entry regulations was 298,379, a 29 percent drop from last year’s figure.
The Makkah governor said that more than 350,000 people had worked to provide pilgrims with support and services. He also said that 35,000 volunteers, in addition to 120,000 security personnel, 30,000 health practitioners and 200,000 workers from other sectors, had contributed to the success of the Hajj season.
Prince Khalid told the media that health services were provided for more than 500,000 pilgrims. As many as 173 hospitals, health centers, and mobile clinics with a capacity of 5,000 beds were available. Health professionals carried out 336 open heart operations and cardiac catheterizations, as well as 2,700 other procedures.
Violations by Hajj pilgrims dropped 29% compared to 2018, says Prince Khalid Al-Faisal
Violations by Hajj pilgrims dropped 29% compared to 2018, says Prince Khalid Al-Faisal
- Prince Khalid told the media that health services were provided for more than 500,000 pilgrims
Saudi Arabia to host ‘dialogue’ between southern Yemeni factions
- The conference hopes to ‘develop a comprehensive vision’ to fulfill the aspirations of Yemenis
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has invited factions in south Yemen to hold a dialogue in Riyadh to “discuss just solutions to the southern cause.”
The ministry statement said the conference in the Saudi capital had been requested by Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, and the Kingdom urged all factions to participate “to develop a comprehensive vision” that would fulfill the aspirations of the southern people.
The separatist Southern Transitional Council has recently seized territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
Saudi Arabia said the STC action poses a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, and regional stability.
Earlier this week, the military coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out airstrikes targeting a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for southern separatist forces. The shipment arrived in the port of Al-Mukalla on two vessels.
Saudi Arabia has reiterated the only way to bring the southern cause to a resolution is through dialogue.
Gulf and Arab countries on Tuesday offered their support for the internationally recognized government in Yemen.
