AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The health department in Karbala, Iraq, said more than 100 medical teams and 100 ambulances have been deployed to serve pilgrims during the Arbaeen season.
Sabah al-Mousawi, the head of the department, said it has deployed the medical teams and ambulances in different parts of Karbala and on roads leading to the holy city.
Eight government-run hospitals as well as private hospitals and field hospitals set up on the Najaf-Karbala road are also ready to provide medical and health services to the pilgrims, he noted.
According to the official, 55 health teams will oversee the distribution of water and food to the pilgrims to make sure they are healthy and safe.
Al-Mousawi went on to say that special procedures are in place to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among pilgrims during the Arbaeen season.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen will fall on September 6.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
Earlier this month, Iraqi officials expressed their readiness to host up to five million pilgrims from different countries during the Arbaeen season.
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