Deaths among pilgrims before arrival raise questions about adherence to health conditions in their countries.

Cases of deaths among pilgrims before reaching the holy sites in Saudi Arabia have raised concerns about some countries' adherence to the required health regulations, especially with expectations of high temperatures during the current Hajj season.

According to reports, Indonesia witnessed the death of three pilgrims during flights to Medina, including a woman in her sixties who suddenly collapsed on the plane. The initial medical report indicated dehydration as the cause of death, while the medical mission suggested that a heart attack was the main reason.

In Malaysia, authorities confirmed the death of five pilgrims due to heart attacks, while Pakistan recorded five deaths since the pilgrims' departure, most of which were due to health complications after arrival.

Cases have also been reported in other countries such as Libya and Bangladesh, mostly affecting elderly individuals with chronic illnesses.

Although the deaths recorded until the end of May were individual and not linked to epidemics or mass incidents, some occurred under conditions that were supposed to be medically prepared, such as on planes equipped with medical crews or during rest periods in pilgrims' hotels.

This raised questions about the health readiness of some pilgrims to perform rituals that require significant physical effort in harsh climatic conditions, as temperatures are expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Arafat and Mina.

The Saudi Ministry of Health emphasized the need for pilgrims to undergo medical examinations to confirm their ability to endure the hardships of Hajj. However, these incidents, varying in nationalities and means of travel, revealed _according to observers_ a failure of some countries to enforce these requirements.

In this regard, Saudi doctor Ahmed Al-Omari said: "If some pilgrims collapse during the flight or upon arrival, how will they fare with the extreme crowding and temperatures that may reach 45 degrees Celsius in Arafat and Mina?"

It is expected that the coming period will witness greater coordination between the health missions of sending countries and the Saudi Hajj authorities to enhance preventive measures, especially as the recurrence of these early deaths _though mostly natural_ serves as a warning against the danger of negligence in enforcing the required health standards.