Egyptian airline EgyptAir has concluded its transportation of over 16,000 pilgrims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage performed annually by Muslims worldwide. The Hajj is to commence this week, ending with Sunday's Eid Al-Adha holiday that lasts for four days. Egypt's state-affiliated daily Al-Ahram newspaper reported that Egypt Air made 268 trips to transport 62,000 Egyptian pilgrims. Egypt's Religious Endowments minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa made a statement upon his arrival in Mecca, urging religious scholars to teach their spiritual and educational role away from political and sectarian divisions. Egypt's Red Sea Port Authority is on alert, awaiting the return of 35,000 Egyptians from Saudi Arabia, comprising pilgrims and Egyptian expats who work in the kingdom during Hajj season. Five ferries will be provided by the authorities to transport pilgrims back to Egypt's Safaga and Nuweiba ports. Thirteen Egyptian pilgrims have died so far, a common occurrence addressed by assistant interior minister Shaker El-Kayal on Monday. In 2013, almost 40 pilgrims died. The majority of this year's deceased so far are elderly Egyptians. El-Kayal assured that none of the deaths are related to epidemic diseases. An outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia earlier this year had stoked worries of travel to the holy city, despite authorities of EgyptAir insisting that bookings were unchanged. The disease has claimed the lives of over 300 since its detection 2 years ago. The number of Egyptian pilgrims this year will reach 62,000, according to a statement by El-Kayal to state-affiliated Al-Akhbar newspaper on Sunday. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered the largest annual human gathering, attracting over two million pilgrims annually in recent years. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/111994.aspx
