One haj pilgrim dies aboard a Saudi plane
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
An Indonesian haj pilgrim has died aboard a Saudi Airlines flight heading for Medina in Saudi Arabia due to a suspected heart attack.
Meanwhile, an official with the Ministry of Religious Affairs said an Indonesian haj pilgrim has been found alive after going missing for 10 hours in Medina.
The dead pilgrim was identified as Muhammad Nisan bin Nikam, 62, from the Jakarta departure point. His flight left Jakarta at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Indonesian health officials on Thursday said they were waiting confirmation from Saudi doctors regarding the cause of Nisan's death.
Nisan's daughter Maysitoh was quoted by the religious affairs ministry's official website www.informasihaji.com as saying that her father might have suffered a heart attack. She said her father had once received treatment at the Harapan Kita Heart Hospital in West Jakarta.
"But, he looked healthy before departure," she said.
Heart attack is the most common cause of death amongst Indonesian pilgrims.
A ministry official serving Indonesian haj pilgrims in Medina, Saiful Islam, said a missing pilgrim, Aris bin Tumin, was found at noon Wednesday after a 10-hour search.
Saiful said Aris was separated from his group after afternoon prayers at the Nabawi Mosque in Medina on Tuesday.
Following the incident, Saiful suggested that Indonesian haj pilgrims who got lost look for nearest house flying red and white flags in order to receive assistance from Indonesian students.
The Indonesian Embassy in Saudi Arabia is also deploying trained staffers to provide emergency assistance for Indonesian pilgrims. Around 205,000 Indonesians have been registered for this haj season, which will peak on Jan. 22, 2005.
Rimarky Oemar, a diplomat based in Mecca, said the training was aimed at minimizing fatalities and accidents.
The Indonesian government is operating 26 fully-equipped ambulances that are stationed in Mecca, Medina and Jedda.
"Our ambulance is a very advanced vehicle when compared to those operated by other countries." Rimarky said.
Each ambulance cost Rp 1 billion (US$107,000), and can provide full treatment for haj pilgrims who are in need of urgent medical attention.
Health authorities in Mecca have prepared four hospitals for Indonesian haj pilgrims in the event that the Indonesian haj clinic (BPHI) in the town cannot treat them for any reason.
The four hospitals are An Nur Hospital, Ajyad General Hospital, Wilada Hospital, and King Fahd Hospital, Antara news agency reported.
Ajyad and King Fahd hospitals specialize in providing emergency aid, while Wilada hospital treats women and children, and An Nur is for those requiring treatment from medical specialists.
BPHI head Joko Trihadi said the Indonesian medical team would cooperate closely with their Saudi counterparts. Medical teams from both countries will be stationed around Arafah-Mudzalifah- Mina (Armina), the focus of religious rituals during haj season.