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Egypt has revoked the operating licenses of 16 tourism companies and referred them to the public prosecutor, holding them accountable for the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims in Mecca.
This announcement was made by a crisis unit, established to address the situation, on Saturday. According to medical and security sources, over 530 Egyptians died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
The crisis unit, led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly confirmed that 31 of these deaths were due to chronic illnesses, Reuters reported.
The tourism companies responsible for the travel arrangements of the deceased pilgrims did not provide any services, including medical assistance, according to the statement.
These companies, not named in the statement, are accused of sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on personal visit visas instead of Hajj visas, which permit access to Mecca for the pilgrimage rituals.
The medical services Saudi authorities provide during the Hajj are unavailable to those travelling on personal visas.
Consequently, the pilgrims who died had to trek through the desert into Mecca to avoid arrest or deportation, the statement added.
Egyptian authorities also stated that the travel agencies failed to provide the pilgrims with “appropriate accommodation,” leading to “exhaustion due to the high temperatures.”
Authorities reported 31 deaths among registered Egyptian pilgrims, attributing these to “chronic diseases.” However, most of those who died were unregistered pilgrims.
In recent days, hundreds of people from various countries have succumbed to the harsh conditions of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, where temperatures have soared to over 51 degrees Celsius (124 Fahrenheit). — Business Insider Africa.
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