High Congregant Death Rate, Requirements For Departing Hajj Starting 2024 Tightened

JAKARTA - The death rate of Indonesian pilgrims in the 2023 Hajj has soared. Based on Siskohat data, until the end of the Hajj operation period there were 773 pilgrims who died in the Holy Land.

For this reason, the Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, proposed a regulation regarding the change in the mechanism for determining the hajj pilgrims who are entitled to depart in 2024.

"Yesterday, the congregation paid off first, then checked for health, so often our officers don't dare or feel uncomfortable passing, even though the congregation is in a bad condition on the grounds that they have paid off," Yaqut said, in a press conference quoted Monday, August 7.

According to Yaqut, this change in mechanism is important to anticipate in order to reduce the death rate of pilgrims next year. "Hopefully it can change its position. Check the health first, when it is feasible, then pay it off," he said.

Minister of Religion Yaqut hopes that this change in mechanism can reduce the death rate of pilgrims.

"Based on Siskohat data, until the end of the Hajj operation period, 773 pilgrims died. Consisting of 752 regular Hajj pilgrims, 18 Special Hajj pilgrims, and three furada pilgrims," he added.

Yaqut said, of the 752 regular pilgrims who died, 562 of them were aged 65 years and over. A total of 81 people are 60 64 years old. While the other 109 pilgrims are under 60 years old," he explained.

The congregation died at the age of 98 years (2 people), while the youngest congregation who died was 42 years (6 people). "The congregation who died this year was the largest since 2015. So in years there must be a tightening of health requirements," he concluded.