Algerian pilgrims welcome new measures

2008-11-28

A newly established office will make sure delegation officials will not abandon pilgrims to perform Hajj themselves.

By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers—28l11l08

[Getty Images] A newly established government body has introduced new measures to help the 36,000 Algerian performing Hajj this year.

With the first group of pilgrims already en route to Mecca, a newly established government body has introduced new measures to help manage the 36,000 Algerian performing Hajj this year.

One new measure bans officials in charge of assisting pilgrims from performing Hajj themselves.

"Any member of the delegation who neglects his duties by performing the rite of Hajj himself," said Berbara al-Sheikh, director-general of the Algerian National Office for Hajj and Umrah office, "will be sent home immediately and risk being debarred from going again."

The new rules have been long awaited, pilgrims said.

"I hope we’ll be properly taken care of at long last," said Bahia. She had performed Hajj before and will do it again this year.

"A few years ago I went to the doctor’s tent for treatment and I found no one there because all the doctors were on the Hajj themselves, like the rest of us. The same thing was true with those who are supposed to give us guidance regarding the rites. Now that they’re obliged to be there to help [pilgrims], I hope things will change."

The new Hajj coordinating body, established in October 2007, has employed 800 employees to manage the pilgrims. For the first time this year, the delegation will include 200 officers from the Algerian Civil Defence Directorate. They will accompany pilgrims from the airports to the holy sites and then back to Algeria.

The civil defence assistants will be divided into six groups, covering 36 hotels in Mecca and 10 hotels in Medina, as well as the 7 camps of Algerian pilgrims in Minen and Arafa.

"They will give round-the-clock help and assistance to the pilgrims," said Colonel Belkassem Ketroussi from the civil defence delegation. "The fact that Algerian civil defence will be present has been welcomed by the Saudi authorities and this decision was taken jointly with the Saudi Ministry for the Hajj."

The quota of pilgrims has increased by 1,000 compared to last year. Fees have also increased. Pilgrims have to pay 190,000 dinars each for the trip. The government only covers 10,000 for each pilgrim.

Pilgrims will start to return home on December 13th. The last group will arrive on January 1st.