Hajj to return to pre-COVID numbers, Saudi Arabia officials say
Al JazeeraAPR 2023
Saudi Arabia has long been host to the Hajj pilgrimage, and has learned extensive amounts about ensuring the safety of attendees. The nation took extraordinary measures during COVID and provided strict safety procedures, backed by my medical personnel, to make sure that such a culturally significant event could go ahead. Preparations and operations will only improve as more pilgrimages pass.
With each year that passes, the health threat to pilgrims attending Hajj worsens due to climate change. The extreme heat conditions during summer in Saudi Arabia may make the risks associated with the pilgrimage unbearable, yet crowds continue to participate in an event known for deadly stampedes and other fatal incidents. Although a significant part of Muslim worship, the safety of this pilgrimage should be scrutinized in the interests of its attendees.