Pilgrims perform prayers ahead of the Hajj season 1445 AH – Saudi Ministry of Hajj and UmrahCAIRO – 20 June 2024: Cairo is coordinating the safe return of Egyptian Hajj pilgrims and the repatriation of the deceased individuals whose families wish to bury them in Egypt. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided dedicated phone numbers for citizens to report missing Hajj pilgrims and request the repatriation of deceased pilgrims. The Hajj pilgrimage, which took place in the year 1445 AH, attracted nearly 2 million pilgrims who endured scorching heat. The influx of unregistered pilgrims has resulted in a breakdown of service provision. An Egyptian official overseeing the country's Hajj mission stated, "The presence of irregular pilgrims created immense chaos in the Egyptian pilgrims' camps, leading to a collapse in the services provided."

Source: Egypt Today June 20, 2024 17:10 UTC