Hajj Pilgrimage Concludes with Workers Engaging in Massive Cleanup Effort
MINA, Saudi Arabia- As the annual Hajj pilgrimage concludes on Friday, a massive cleanup effort will commence to restore the holy city of Mecca to its former state. The pilgrimage, which saw 1.8 million faithful Muslims from around the world gather in Saudi Arabia, requires the assistance of tens of thousands of workers, including cleaners, security personnel, and medics.
Amongst these workers are contracted cleaners, many of whom are migrant workers seeking a much-needed source of income. This year, however, their task was particularly arduous as they battled sweltering temperatures that regularly soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) during the five-day pilgrimage, which is mostly conducted outdoors with limited shade.
“The heat is too much,” said a 26-year-old trash collector from Bangladesh, who, along with five other cleaners, spoke anonymously to The Associated Press. They revealed that they are paid 600 Saudi riyals (approximately $160) a month and work grueling 12-hour shifts for several weeks surrounding the Hajj, without any days off, before returning to their cleaning jobs in other parts of the kingdom.
The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, obligating all Muslims to undertake it at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially capable. This year marked the first time in three years that the pilgrimage occurred without coronavirus restrictions, making it an even more significant event for the faithful.
Despite the intense heat, pilgrims insisted that the demanding journey was worthwhile. For many Muslims, the Hajj is the pinnacle of their spiritual life, a profound experience that absolves sins and brings them closer to God. Some devotees spend years saving money while awaiting the opportunity to acquire a permit for the pilgrimage.
The Hajj is also a matter of great pride and legitimacy for the Saudi royal family, which acts as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and invests billions of dollars in organizing the annual event, which stands as one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
For the cleaners, the Hajj represents not only a religious observance but also a job. However, this year’s pilgrimage posed exceptional challenges for them. The blazing sun created scorching conditions, exacerbated by the reflective white marble surfaces of the holy sites. With minimal breeze and sporadic hot winds accompanied by sand gusts, the workers grappled with overheating cellphones and oppressive conditions.
The Saudi Health Ministry reported that more than 8,400 pilgrims received treatment for heat exhaustion or heat stroke, with nearly half of them requiring hospitalization.
Mehwish Batool, a 29-year-old first-time pilgrim from Pakistan, resorted to a spray bottle to prevent dizziness, while seeking the scant shade offered by his umbrella hat. “There is nothing here, there is only the sun right above us,” he lamented. “I love the experience, but the worst part is the heat. And there is nothing to protect us.”
Saudi authorities made efforts to alleviate the impact of the extreme temperatures by setting up canopies and industrial misters in certain areas. Pilgrims armed themselves with umbrellas and spray bottles to cool down and gratefully accepted free drinks distributed along the routes between the holy sites. The waste from these beverages was collected by workers either directly or from the ground.
Usama Zaytoun, a spokesman for the Mecca municipality, revealed that approximately 14,000 workers were contracted from private companies to manage the cleanup during and after the Hajj. While declining to comment on the workers’ salaries or conditions, Zaytoun assured that there were no reports of health issues among the workers this year.
The cleanup process is expected to take around a week, during which municipal workers will gather waste and employ 1,200 industrial compactors before sending it for processing. Streets, campsites, and bridges in Mecca and its vicinity will be disinfected and sprayed with pesticides, measures designed to protect the environment and prevent the spread of diseases.
The dedication of the workers does not go unnoticed, as pilgrims recognized their efforts by offering donations in honor of Eid al-Adha, a charitable holiday that coincides with the last three days of the Hajj. Others provided the cleaners with water or refreshing sprays from handheld misters.
“They are doing great job,” said Sheikh Dawood, a 40-year-old pilgrim from India, expressing his gratitude. “Their service is excellent. We cannot say it with words. So there should be support for them.” He added that the cleaners would be blessed by God for their labor in the scorching heat, stating, “I think everyone is very thankful for them.”