Loved Ones Search for Missing as Hajj Death Toll Exceeds 900

A man affected by the scorching heat is assisted by others as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual, part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)

Searing Heat

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be completed by all Muslims with the means to do so at least once in their lifetime. Its timing, determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, shifts forward each year in the Gregorian calendar. In recent years, the mainly outdoor rituals have taken place during Saudi Arabia’s sweltering summer.

According to a Saudi study published last month, temperatures in the region are rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) each decade.

In addition to Egypt, fatalities have been confirmed by Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, though the specific causes of death have not always been disclosed.

A second Arab diplomat told AFP on Wednesday that Jordanian officials were searching for 20 missing pilgrims, while 80 others initially reported missing were found in hospitals. An Asian diplomat reported “around 68 dead” from India and mentioned that others were missing. “Some died due to natural causes, and many were elderly pilgrims. We assume others died because of the weather conditions,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has not provided information on fatalities but reported over 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone. Last year, more than 200 pilgrims, most from Indonesia, were reported dead.

‘No News’

Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform the hajj through irregular channels because they cannot afford the often costly official permits. This has become easier since 2019 when Saudi Arabia introduced a general tourism visa, explained Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham. “Before, only residents of the kingdom could do this, and they knew the situation,” he said. “For these tourist visa holders, it’s like being on the migrant route without any idea of what to expect.”

One of the Arab diplomats who spoke to AFP on Wednesday said many of the dead Egyptians were unregistered. Even pilgrims with official permits can be vulnerable, such as Houria Ahmad Abdallah Sharif, a 70-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who has been missing since Saturday. After praying on Mount Arafat, she told a friend she wanted to go to a public bathroom to clean her abaya but never returned.

“We’ve searched for her from door to door and have not found her until now,” said the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We know many who are still searching for their family members and relatives. If they find them, they are often found dead,” the friend added.