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Mosques in Makkah to Be Disinfected with Product that Decontaminates in 30 Seconds

Social distancing is observed at a mosque in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Social distancing is observed at a mosque in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Mosques in Makkah to Be Disinfected with Product that Decontaminates in 30 Seconds

Social distancing is observed at a mosque in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Social distancing is observed at a mosque in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

As part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, a campaign has been launched in the holy city of Makkah to disinfect 250 mosques using MicroSafe, an eco-friendly alcohol-free disinfectant composed of oxidized water, ensuring the safety and health of worshippers.

The Hadiyah Charity Association, in partnership with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, started the disinfection process, which was launched from the Salaf Al-Saleh Mosque.

Mansour al-Amer, the head of the association, said several precautionary and preventive measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the safety of worshippers will be implemented as part of the initiative, noting that the technology has been approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Safa Qadumi, the CEO of MicroSafe Group, said the product does not include chemicals, leave any side effects or agitate the skin eyes and has no scent, because it is composed of oxidized water. It is used worldwide to disinfect hospitals and ambulances, and can be used at mosque facilities and carpets, making them decontaminated and safe for worship, in as little as 30 seconds.

The Saudi Ministry of Health registered 2,613 new cases of COVID 19 on Friday, raising the total number to 245,851. It said 3,539 recoveries were recorded, raising the tally to 191,161. Thirty-seven new deaths were registered, bringing the total to 2,407 deaths.

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Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
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Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP

Arriving in the deadly aftermath of an Israeli strike in northern Gaza last week, rescuer Nooh Al-Shaghnobi risked his life to aid the wounded despite warnings of another imminent attack.

In a video that has since gone viral on social media, civil defense member Shaghnobi can be seen desperately trying to pull a wounded man out from under a mound of rubble after a strike on a school on Thursday.

As he was working, a fresh evacuation order was issued by the Israeli military, warning of another strike on the same site, a school sheltering displaced people from across the territory.

"The scene was terrifying" as people fled the building, Shaghnobi told AFP, referring to the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war.

"I became anxious, and the injured person grew even more distressed," he said.

"I tried to calm him down, telling him, 'I will stay with you until your last breath. We will die together if we must.'"

Shaghnobi said he dug with his bare hands through the debris to reach the wounded man's leg which was pinned under concrete.

"He kept calling out: 'Why did you come back, man? Leave me to die. Get out.'"

Shaghnobi said at one point the pair were the only people left in the building as Israeli reconnaissance drones flew overhead.

"I kept trying to pull him out, but I couldn't. I said to myself: 'This is the moment we die.'"

It was then that one of Shaghnobi's colleagues rushed over, warning that they had just 10 minutes to save anyone still alive before another strike hit.

Together they pulled with all their strength until the man's leg was freed.

"In that moment, my eyes welled up with tears, my body shaking from exhaustion," he said.

While initially hesitant, Shaghnobi's other colleagues arrived to help carry the wounded man to safety.

Gaza's civil defense agency said at least 31 people, including children, were killed in last Thursday's strike on the school in the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, northeast of Gaza City.

Since the Gaza war began after Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in schools and other facilities in a bid to escape the deadly violence.

Most of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once since the war started.

On Wednesday, a strike on a residential block in Gaza City that housed many displaced people killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 60, according to Gaza's civil defense agency.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a "senior Hamas terrorist" in the attack.