The Mina disaster
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.