Egyptian member of parliament Mahmoud Qassem said tour operators had “abandoned pilgrims and turned off their mobile phones” so they could not hear travellers’ cries for help.
 "Egypt cracks down on tourism after hundreds of pilgrims die during Hajj")
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba, the cubic building of the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Photo: PTI) NYT
Jerry Mulaney
The Egyptian government said on Saturday it had suspended the licenses of 16 travel agencies that helped some pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia after hundreds of them died in scorching desert heat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
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At least 450 people have died during this year’s pilgrimage, where travelers endured temperatures ranging from 108 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (42 to 49 degrees Celsius), but the actual death toll is expected to rise as governments get a more accurate death toll (Egypt has officially acknowledged only 31 deaths). The Egyptian government announced the suspension of 16 travel agencies, saying they had failed to provide pilgrims with vital services such as medical care. It said the companies had not provided pilgrims with “adequate accommodation,” causing them to suffer from “heat-induced fatigue.”
Reuters reported that some travel agencies may not have properly registered the pilgrimages to avoid expensive package tour prices, and that some have been accused of allowing pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia on personal visas rather than hajj visas that grant medical care and access to holy sites.
Egyptian member of parliament Mahmoud Qassem said tour operators had “abandoned pilgrims and turned off their mobile phones” so they could not hear travellers’ cries for help.
There were also complaints that pilgrims were not provided with enough air conditioning or water during the scorching heat. Given the number of unregistered visitors, Saudi Arabia may not have been prepared to handle such a large influx of people. The Tunisian government has said the death toll among pilgrims from the country is expected to rise from the 49 reported on Friday.
©2024 The New York Times News Service
