Major security and traffic operations in two holy cities

MADINAH/MAKKAH: The government on Monday launched its massive security, traffic and safety operation in Makkah and Madinah for Ramadan and the long summer holidays.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Hadi bin Dirham Al-Shahrani of the Madinah police said that 15,000 security officers were implementing the traffic plan in Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan. He was speaking at a press conference held at the police’s media center in the city.
Brig. Nawaf bin Nahis Al-Mohammadi, director of the Madinah Traffic Department, said the plan would be implemented in stages, with the focus on the area surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque, entry points for vehicles, and at the local meat and fruit markets. This would take place around all prayer times.
Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Mush’han, commander of the Prophet’s Mosque’s security force, said there would be 24-hour surveillance around the mosque, including keeping all corridors clear of worshipers, guiding lost and elderly people, children and those with special needs, and providing first aid.
Col. Turki Al-Makhawi, commander of the road security patrols in Madinah, said that patrols have been intensified on Al-Hijra, Qassim and Yanbu roads. Lt. Col. Abdullah Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, director of Madinah security patrols, said there have been several undercover teams deployed throughout the city’s neighborhoods.
There have also been about 5,000 male and female employees of the Prophet’s Mosque deployed inside the building and courtyards to assist worshipers, clean up the areas and ensure water is provided, according to Deputy President of the Prophet’s Mosque Affairs Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Falih.
He said the ground floor of the Prophet’s Mosque was covered with more than 16,000 carpets. In addition, there has been 300 tons of Zamzam water provided daily, which includes 15,000 Zamzam containers inside the mosque, 40 water reservoirs of cold water with disposable clean cups, and 20 drinking sites with 385 fountains in the courtyards.
The mosque also has 250 umbrellas to protect worshipers from the sun and 436 water-spraying fans to cool down the area. Four billboards in seven languages have been set up, copies of the holy Qur’an provided, and lessons and lectures available for visitors.
Al-Falih said that workers have been deployed to ensure parking is provided efficiently, illegal vendors prevented from selling goods in the courtyards, and the ban on smoking enforced. In addition, beggars would be prevented from plying their trade in the central area.
In terms of cleaning operations, he said that about 45 tons of waste is removed daily from the premises to keep the mosque clean. The carpets are also cleaned constantly, with special bags provided for shoes in front of the mosque, in addition to 2,800 shelves for storage of footwear.
In Makkah, the Public Security’s Aviation unit has started carrying out its plan for Ramadan. Mohammad Al-Harbi, pilot and commander in chief of the unit, said nine aircraft would be deployed, equipped with state-of-the-art technical and medical equipment.
The aircraft would fly over the Grand Mosque and the surrounding areas, and the roads leading to it, as well as the highways linked to Jeddah and Madinah. The aircraft have cameras that would take images for the command and control centers. The airstrips at King Abdulaziz Medical City and the other hospitals have been checked to ensure their readiness to receive emergency cases, he said.