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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesia to Evaluate 2026 Hajj Amid High Death Toll

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs plans to evaluate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage to reduce pilgrim deaths, despite a 25% reduction, 350 deaths remain too high.
  • Key areas for improvement include healthcare services and managing crowd density in Mina, identified as a weak point in the recent pilgrimage.
  • The ministry aims to learn from mistakes and enhance services for future pilgrimages, acknowledging both successes like innovations and areas needing significant reform.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs is set to evaluate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, focusing on reducing pilgrim fatalities. Minister Mochamad Irfan stated that while the ministry achieved a 25% reduction in deaths compared to the previous year, the figure of over 350 deaths is still considered too high.

We can reduce the mortality rate by about 25 percent, but it's still too large. The death toll of 350-something is still high.

— Mochamad IrfanMinister of Religious Affairs Mochamad Irfan speaking at the National Working Meeting for Hajj Service Evaluation in Jakarta.

"We can reduce the mortality rate by about 25 percent, but it's still too large. The death toll of 350-something is still high," Irfan said at the National Working Meeting for Hajj Service Evaluation in Jakarta on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

The ministry will prioritize improving healthcare services for pilgrims next year and address issues related to overcrowding in Mina, which was identified as a significant challenge. "Mina is one of the weak points in the service yesterday," Irfan noted.

Mina is one of the weak points in the service yesterday.

— Mochamad IrfanMinister of Religious Affairs Mochamad Irfan identifying areas for improvement in the Hajj service.

Despite these challenges, the minister acknowledged the overall success of the 2026 Hajj, calling it one of the best ever organized. He attributed this success to eight innovations, including provincial quota allocation and the implementation of the Nusuk card. The operational period for the 2026 Hajj concluded on July 1, with Indonesia receiving an official quota of 221,000 pilgrims.

We open up mistakes, open up shortcomings with the aim of improvement, not to blame each other.

— Mochamad IrfanMinister of Religious Affairs Mochamad Irfan emphasizing the goal of the evaluation process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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