PM chairs follow-up meeting on deaths, injuries of Jordanian pilgrims

AMMAN — Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Saturday chaired a meeting to discuss the recent deaths and injuries of Jordanian pilgrims during this year's Hajj season, according to a government statement.

A Foreign Ministry statement on Friday said that the number of Jordanian pilgrims who died of heat exhaustion while performing Hajj rituals has reached 75.

Khasawneh expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery and a safe return to the Kingdom, stressing the importance of cooperation among the related agencies and praising their rapid and professional response to reports about the deaths and injuries of pilgrims who were not members of the official mission.

The prime minister also commended the joint efforts of the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sites, the Foreign Ministry, the Jordanian Embassy in Riyadh, the Jordanian Consulate in Jeddah, the Interior Ministry, and various security agencies, who acted promptly and continue to monitor the conditions of the injured in Saudi hospitals and to search for the missing.

In light of the opening of an investigation by the public prosecutor's office, the Prime Minister instructed all relevant ministries and authorities to immediately provide all information and data requested by the public prosecutor.

During the meeting, Khasawneh was briefed by ministers and officials on the measures taken to address the situation, the status of the injured in Saudi hospitals, and the ongoing efforts to locate the remaining missing persons in cooperation with the Saudi authorities.