The Mina disaster
Although, as far as the Indonesian pilgrims are concerned, the disaster that occurred during the haj last Thursday at Mina was much less serious than that of 1990, the calamity is nevertheless much to be lamented -- especially because all the reports received so far indicate that it could have been prevented.
According to media reports, the disaster occurred as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, who were packed into an area near Mina, stampeded during a stone-throwing ritual symbolizing the stoning of Satan. One-hundred-and-eighteen pilgrims, including two from Indonesia, died in the incident, while many more were injured. Saudi Arabian health officials have warned that the death toll from Thursday's incident might yet increase as more victims succumb to their injuries in hospital.
The accident is said to be the worst after that of 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims, including 631 from Indonesia, lost their lives. Since 1990, three similar calamities have occurred at Mina. Obviously this easily gives rise to the question, why Mina? Knowledgeable observers say that one factor could be that it is normal for pilgrims, especially the elderly, to be close to exhaustion by the time they arrive for the stone-throwing ritual at Mina, coming as it does near the end of the long pilgrimage.
As far as safety precautions are concerned, it must be said that Saudi Arabian officials have over the years done all they can to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the major religious duties prescribed for Moslem believers, as comfortable as is humanly possible under existing conditions. One must not forget that many, or possibly most of the pilgrims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca, are unaccustomed to the desert or the climate of the area. The additional fact that during the haj, millions of pilgrims from all over the world converge on this area certainly does not improve things. This year alone, for example, more than 1.7 million believers are in the holy land.
Under such conditions, perhaps one of the most effective measures that could be taken is to try to further improve precautions at home, before the pilgrims depart for the holy land. To a certain degree, to be sure, such precautions already exist. For example, prospective pilgrims are required to undergo health checks to make sure they can withstand, what are for most Indonesians, the relatively rough conditions of Saudi Arabia.
Although it is admittedly difficult to control the behavior of millions of pilgrims coming from different countries and different cultures, education and practical training to familiarize prospective pilgrims with the kinds of situations they are likely to meet in the holy land is important as this can help minimize the possibility of disasters. Naturally, more effective measures on the part of the Saudi Arabian officials in areas where this seems to be lacking would greatly help.
It is to be hoped that last Thursday's Mina disaster will prove to be the last. Given the importance and the magnitude of the annual haj pilgrimage for Moslems the world over, officials in every country involved should give the Saudi authorities all the help they can to prevent needless calamities in the future. As for now, we can only offer our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of those who have given their lives to fulfill this major obligation toward the Almighty as prescribed by their faith. Their sacrifice will not be in vain.