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This year's haj carries serious health risks
More than 160,000 haj pilgrims from Indonesia are at high risk of falling victim to heatstroke as the temperature in Saudi Arabia is expected to soar to 50 degrees Celsius this year due to climate change
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ore than 160,000 haj pilgrims from Indonesia are at high risk of falling victim to heatstroke as the temperature in Saudi Arabia is expected to soar to 50 degrees Celsius this year due to climate change.
The Health Ministry on Tuesday issued a warning to all 168,800 Indonesians set to fly to Saudi Arabia for the annual haj pilgrimage in the coming weeks as few are aware of the potential threat of such high temperatures.
'[The increase in temperature is] extreme, it is even predicted to reach 50o. [For comparison], the highest temperature in Jakarta now is around 30o,' said Head of the Health Ministry's haj health department Fidiansjah.
Despite its tropical climate, Indonesians are ill-equipped to deal with such extreme heat; last year, four Indonesians died from heat stroke while performing haj, he said.
'Indonesians who perform shalat [Islamic ritual prayers] for only between five and 10 minutes could suffer dehydration, heatstroke and even death,' Fidiansjah said.
He said that the raise in temperature from the peak of 43o last year could be blamed on climate change, which had also caused the weather in Saudi Arabia to be extremely
volatile.
'Last year, for example, there was rain during the night, but tomorrow it could be scorching heat when pilgrims join the ultimate haj ritual, wukuf,' said Fidiansjah.
A heat wave has engulfed much of the Middle East, sending temperatures and humidity soaring throughout the region, close to breaking meteorological records across the region.
In the southern Iraqi city of Basra, for example, temperatures are expected to hover around 51o for most of the week and reach 52o on the weekends.
Worse is the city of Bandar Mahshahr in Iran, which soared to a staggering 73o last Friday as the heat wave continued to bake the Middle East, already one of the hottest places on earth.
'That was one of the most incredible temperature observations I have ever seen, and it is one of the most extreme readings ever in the world,' AccuWeather meteorologist Anthony Sagliani said in a statement.
As the threat of heat stroke looms, the government has taken some cautionary measures.
'On Aug. 19, we will launch a special guide book to anticipate the need of water for haj pilgrims because we anticipate extreme temperatures for the next 15 years,'
Fidiansjah said.
The guide book is to be distributed to all Indonesian pilgrims, who will fly to Saudi Arabia in multiple groups starting from Aug. 21.
'The easiest way [to detect whether we are at risk of heat stroke] is through [the color of our] urine. Also, we could detect from whether we are feeling sore or not in our bodies. That's the first sign of dehydration. You will feel sore in your calf at first,' said Fidiansjah.
The government will also distribute portable water sprayers for each pilgrim.
'They can be used to cool off and for drinking purpose. The content is drinkable water or the holy Zam Zam water. The Religious Affairs Ministry also expects to prepare water for pilgrims during wukuf at the Arafah field. Each pilgrim is expected to get 3 liters of water.
During the briefing for haj pilgrims at the Religious Affairs Ministry's office, the Health Ministry had also urged pilgrims to walk three to four days a week for 1.6 kilometers, which is the same distance as a complete round of Tawaf.
Tawaf is one of the most important rituals in the pilgrimage where Muslims have to walk counter-clockwise around the Kaaba seven times and extol the greatness
of God.
Lastly, the Health Ministry urged Indonesian pilgrims to refrain from forcing their bodies beyond their
capabilities.
'Remember that Sunnah [the written tradition of the Prophet Muhammad] is not mandatory. Don't go back and forth between your lodging and mosque under extreme heat [just to do Islamic prayer at mosque]. A prayer in your lodging is as noble [as doing it at the mosque],' Fidiansjah said.
Health Minister Nila Djuwita Anfasa Moeloek also warned would-be pilgrims to brace for extreme heat.
'Today, the temperature in Mecca and Medina is already above 45oC. Once they are there, all pilgrims should stay hydrated,' she said.
