Hajj Organisers Form Mina Special Task Force to Protect Elderly and Sick Pilgrims

The Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia has formed the Mina Special Task Force (Timsus Mina) to optimise protection and guidance services for pilgrims, particularly the elderly and those who are unwell, during the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Harun Arrasyid Usman, Coordinator of the Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina Operations Unit (Satop Armuzna) and Pilgrim Protection for the PPIH Saudi Arabia, explained that the team consists of experienced Pilgrim Protection (Linjam) personnel who have served at least once in previous Hajj operations.

“These colleagues were deployed on the night of 8 Dzulhijjah and headed directly to Mina without passing through Arafah. Under this scheme, their energy is considered fresh to provide maximum assistance as soon as the pilgrims arrive,” said Harun after inspecting the movement routes from Mina to Jamarat on Sunday (18/5/2026).

Harun detailed that the primary duties of the Mina Special Task Force include supervision, welcoming, and monitoring the movement of prospective pilgrims arriving from Muzdalifah towards Jamrah Aqobah. Additionally, the team is prepared to welcome pilgrims utilising the ‘murur’ scheme, which involves passing through Arafah without stopping. The arrival phase in Mina is considered a critical period due to the potential for high density and physical exhaustion.

Regarding the mapping of the ‘maktab’ (lodging) areas, Harun noted that most Indonesian pilgrims are located in Zone 3 and Zone 5 near the Muaisim Tunnel. They are distributed across 61 bases, ranging from small ‘maktab’ in the lower areas to larger ‘maktab’ in the upper areas. Meanwhile, for the ‘tanazul’ scheme—where pilgrims return directly to their hotels after the Jamrah Aqobah stoning ritual—plans are in place to station them in Zone 5, with final formulations currently being finalised before a simultaneous announcement.