As Reuters writes, medical and security sources say At least 530 Egyptians have died during this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca. 31 deaths from chronic diseases have been confirmed, according to a report by the unit, which was set up on Thursday under the leadership of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli.
In Makkah, the temperature sometimes exceeds 51 degrees Celsius. According to the report, the travel agencies that arranged the trip for the deceased did not provide any services including medical to them.
Travel agencies are accused of sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on the basis of individual visas instead of special visas that allow them to visit Mecca, where the Hajj rituals take place.
Medical services arranged by the Saudi Arabian authorities to ease the difficulties of the Hajj journey are not provided to travelers with individual visas. The statement added that pilgrims who died had to cross the desert to Mecca to avoid arrest or deportation.
Egyptian officials also say that travel agencies have failed to provide pilgrims with “adequate accommodation”, which they say has “exhausted pilgrims due to high temperatures”.
Source: Reuters