MAKKAH: The Civil Defense has over 70 units ready to check pilgrim accommodation for any possible hazards during Haj.

It has also provided 85 units for medical evacuation and to check the safety of tunnels, as well as over 1,000 paramedics stationed at fixed points in the Grand Mosque and 20 other mobile stations that operate during peak hours.

There are 59 fire crews in Makkah and the Holy Sites and 36 rescue teams to intervene in times of calamity.

The Civil Defense has divided the holy city into nine regions and has distributed its manpower of almost 2,000 officers, soldiers and civil volunteers accordingly.

The volunteers are supplied with tools and equipment for fire extinguishing, rescue operations, ambulance services, evacuation and checking accommodation.

It has circulated millions of mobile messages to enlighten pilgrims about safety measures and installed a number of posters and plasma televisions displaying information in 11 languages for the same purpose.

The Civil Defense will use modern technology to identify areas of possible risk and the shortest routes to reach them. It has trained Tawafa Establishment officials, in charge of providing services to pilgrims, on Civil Defense work.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held on Wednesday at Civil Defense headquarters for all parties concerned with medical evacuation and health emergencies to review preparations for the Haj season.

Representatives from the Civil Defense, Health Affairs, the Saudi Red Crescent, the medical services sections of the Interior Ministry, the medical services unit of the armed forces and the Makkah municipality attended the meeting.

Director of the Civil Protection Department at the Civil Defense Brig. Abdullah Al-Ghashsham said the meeting reviewed the medical services and rescue and preventive operations in place during Haj in addition to the distribution of medical rescue units in the holy sites.

He said the Department of Health Affairs in Makkah would provide 24 medical units that can be reinforced when needed.

Al-Ghashsham also said five medical units will be stationed in the Jamrat area from the night of Dul Hijjah 10.

He said the meeting reviewed the probable dangers expected during the Haj season and implemented measures to deal with them swiftly for the welfare of the pilgrims.