The Egyptian government has suspended the licenses of 16 travel companies following the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims during the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrims faced extreme temperatures ranging from 108 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to at least 450 deaths. The actual death toll is expected to rise as more accurate numbers are reported. The government cited the companies’ failure to provide important services such as medical care and appropriate accommodations as reasons for the suspension.
Some travel agencies may have avoided registering for the pilgrimage to bypass high costs, and tourists were allegedly allowed to travel on personal visas instead of hajj visas that would have granted access to medical care and holy sites. Mahmoud Qassem, a member of Egypt’s Parliament, accused the companies of leaving pilgrims stranded and ignoring their calls for help by turning off their phones. Inadequate access to cooling stations and water in the scorching heat also contributed to the challenges faced by the pilgrims.
Tunisia’s government has reported that the death toll of pilgrims from their country is predicted to increase from the 49 deaths initially reported. The influx of unregistered visitors, combined with the intense desert heat, potentially caught Saudi Arabia off guard in managing such a large number of people. The hajj pilgrimage has witnessed several tragedies in the past, including a stampede in 2015 that claimed over 2,200 lives and numerous pilgrims succumbing to heat stress in recent years.
The Saudi government has confirmed that more than 1.8 million Muslims traveled to Mecca for this year’s hajj, with 1.6 million coming from outside Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian government’s decision to suspend the licenses of the travel companies reflects a growing concern for the safety and well-being of pilgrims undertaking the hajj pilgrimage. Authorities aim to hold the tour operators accountable for the lack of necessary services provided to the pilgrims, resulting in the tragic loss of lives during the pilgrimage.
