Egypt intends to gather DNA samples from the families of pilgrims who have gone missing during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage season, according to a cabinet statement.
Citizens who have lost contact with relatives in Saudi Arabia following the annual ritual and still cannot determine their status should visit the foreign ministry headquarters, Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed El-Homosany said Sunday.
El-Homosany said the move is part of the continuous follow-up of the task force formed to address the crisis of missing and deceased pilgrims, to “complete the procedures for searching… and in preparation for gathering DNA samples from the relatives of the missing for analysis.”
Up to 680 Egyptians reportedly died during the pilgrimage due to extreme heat, and scores were reported missing.
In June, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi established a task force led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to address the crisis.
The task force revoked the licenses of 16 tourism companies involved in illegal pilgrimage arrangements and
referred their managers to public prosecution for fraud.
Former Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukdy told the committee that most victims were on unregistered Hajj trips and hence ineligible for services provided to registered pilgrims during the heatwave.
Some Egyptian tourist companies and Hajj trip operators sold Saudi tourist and Umrah visas to Hajj hopefuls illegally, leaving these individuals in limbo in Mecca and Medina amidst scorching temperatures.
A Hajj visa is more expensive than a tourist or Umrah visa.
This year, Egypt’s official Hajj mission comprised over 50,000 pilgrims.
Source: State Information Service Egypt
