Egyptian pilgrim fatalities’ compensations to reach $622.5k – Insurer

Families of pilgrims killed in the recent Mecca stampede are to receive compensations ranging between 5-7 million Egyptian pounds (US$622,510-871,514), the Egyptian Life Takaful Company – GIG’s official said Sunday.

Hisham Abdel Shakour – GIG’s Managing Director – told Amwal Al Ghad that his company had already agreed with the Ministry of Interior Affairs to provide insurance coverage for the Egyptian pilgrims.

Around 62,500 pilgrims enjoyed the GIG’s insurance policy, Abdel Shakour said.

He added that GIG decided to increase the percentage of compensation in case of death or total disability by 30,000 pounds to reach 50,000 pounds for its policy.

The death toll of Egyptian pilgrims in September’s stampede in Mecca increased to 177 according to the latest statement released by Egypt’s consular-general in Jeddah.

According to Saudi Arabia’s authorities, the official death toll in the stampede has reached 769.