Eleven Yemeni pilgrims died in hajj stampede [Archives:2006/912/Local News]
MECCA, Jan. 15 ) Ministry of Endowment and Guidance announced
that eleven Yemeni pilgrims died and 56 others were injured as they performed the Jamarat ritual(stone-throwing) in Mina last Thursday in this year's hajj session in Saudi Arabia.
Minister of Endowment and Guidance, Mr. Hamoud Ubad, said that five of the dead pilgrims were members of the Yemeni official Hajj mission, and the remaining six are residents of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Ubad said to the Saba news net that the dead Yemeni were buried in Mecca on Friday, while most of the injured have got out of hospitals being in good conditions. The dead pilgrims are Saida Abdullah Nahshal, Qaed Ahmed Nahshal, Ali Al-Hadari, Mohammed Jarallah, Abdul-Jalil Al-Hibshi, Hifzallah Ali Ahmed, Ali Mohammed Abdullah, Mohammed Saleh, Fatima Farei' Abdullah, Jawhara Salim Ahmed, and Fatima Farham.
Saudi authorities announced Friday that the death toll of pilgrims who performed the Jamarat ritual in Mina reached 362 this year. A hundred of them are Egyptians, 30 Pakistanis, 26 Indian nationals, 4 Chinese and two from Indonesia. Saudi authorities attributed the incident to the “unruly pilgrims” from outside the officially approved tours. Saudi Health Minister said “unruly pilgrims and a problem of luggage” caused the stampede. On the same front, Saba News Agency stated on Thursday that President Ali Abdullah Saleh made a telephone call on Thursday with Minister of Endowments, guidance and chairman of Yemeni Pilgrimage mission Hamoud Ubad to get assure about Yemeni Pilgrims and their safety after crush accident of pilgrims in Mecca. Minister of Endowments reassured President Saleh about Yemeni pilgrims,affirming that all Yemeni pilgrims are getting all kinds of care.
This is the second incident in which Yemeni pilgrims died this year. On January 5, four Yemenis were killed and three others injured as a hotel collapsed near the holy Kaaba site in Mecca.
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