Monitoring Exercise 12: Enhancing preparedness for the Hajj season of 1447 AH to face emergencies
Enhancing readiness for the Hajj season: 24 government agencies participate in the “Monitoring 12” exercise
As part of intensive preparations to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, the National Center for Meteorology and Environmental Protection conducted the "Rasad-12" virtual exercise at its headquarters in Jeddah. The exercise saw wide participation from 24 government agencies involved in emergency and crisis management. This strategic exercise aimed to enhance preparedness and coordination for the 1447 AH Hajj season, with a particular focus on responding to emergency weather phenomena and potential climate hazards.
General context: The importance of advance preparation for the Hajj season
The Hajj season is one of the world's largest annual human gatherings, with Saudi Arabia welcoming millions of pilgrims from around the globe. The Saudi government places paramount importance on ensuring a safe and accessible environment for the pilgrimage. Over the decades, the Kingdom has developed a comprehensive system for crowd management and emergency services, and simulated exercises like "Rasad 12" are a key component of this system. These exercises not only test plans on paper but also put them into practice to measure effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, particularly in light of increasing global climate challenges, which make accurate weather forecasting and rapid response crucial.
Objectives and details of Exercise “Rasad 12”
The exercise scenario centered on a realistic simulation of a sharp rise in surface temperatures in Mecca and the holy sites, coinciding with high population density. The exercise focused on testing the mechanisms for reporting, disseminating, and escalating information related to weather phenomena, and ensuring the effectiveness of the detailed emergency plan for the Hajj season. The scenario included issuing a "climate forecast report" and a "predictive report," along with an analysis of the potential impact of the weather conditions, including the risks of heat stress and sunstroke, which are among the most significant health challenges during the Hajj season.
Local and international impact: national integration and global reputation
At the local level, the exercise enhances institutional integration among participating entities and ensures a unified and coordinated response in record time. The goal is to translate weather reports and warnings into concrete field actions that contribute to saving lives, such as activating cooling zones, deploying medical teams, and guiding pilgrims through awareness messages. Internationally, the Kingdom's success in safely managing the Hajj season reflects its capability and efficiency in organizing and managing major global events. The safety of pilgrims coming from more than 180 countries is a global responsibility, and the efforts exerted in this regard reinforce the Kingdom's position as a leader in the Islamic world and a pioneer in crisis and disaster management.
Towards continuous development
The exercise concluded with a thorough performance evaluation by a specialized team, aiming to document and record 100% of the performance and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Through this initiative, the National Center of Meteorology reaffirms its commitment to continuous development and ensuring the sustainability of digital communication channels for the efficient exchange of data and information, thereby serving the safety and comfort of pilgrims and contributing to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in enhancing the Hajj and Umrah experience.
