JEDDAH, 12 December 2002 — The Kingdom has chartered a number of ships to transport an estimated 200,000 Umrah pilgrims stranded in the Kingdom as a result of the holiday rush and cheating by travel agents, according to Dr. Mohammed Saleh Banten, deputy Haj minister for Umrah affairs.
He said the chartered ships will operate one or two additional trips daily to transport the pilgrims. He disclosed that Egypt alone had sent about 700,000 pilgrims for Umrah during the Ramadan season.
He said the ministry transported some stranded pilgrims with the help of new shipping companies. “The shipping companies must transport the pilgrims within the time schedule fixed earlier and inform Saudi authorities about overstayers.
“If they fail to do so they will be fined, which is SR3,000 for each overstaying pilgrim,” the minister said. Shawwal 15 or Dec. 20 is last date for the departure of pilgrims from Makkah.
A number of Egyptian pilgrims, who came by ship, told reporters that they were cheated by travel agents back home. Mohammed Ali Ibrahim said he was forced to sleep in the street without food or drink for not being able to return to Egypt as per schedule.
“The agent promised us that we will be able to return on Shawwal 3, but no ship came to pick us,” he said, and urged authorities to quickly intervene to end the worsening plight of pilgrims. Some pilgrims complained that booking agents were taking bribes from passengers.
Samir Zamzami of Al-Ozza shipping agents held Umrah companies responsible for the delay, saying they did not send representatives to the port to arrange return journey of their pilgrims.
“We as shipping agents cannot do anything to solve this problem. It’s the duty of Umrah companies to enlighten pilgrims about black market and fake agents,” he added.
Egyptian Consul General in Jeddah Ahmed Al-Bedaiwi said the consulate has already informed the ministries of tourism and foreign affairs in Egypt about the companies which cheated the pilgrims without fulfilling their obligations.
Bedaiwi hoped the problem would be solved shortly. “We trying to transport them back home as quickly as possible. We have contacted shipping and transport companies,” he added.
“We have already transported 1,200 passengers through Al-Salam company, which cooperated with us by operating additional trips.”
Banten said the ministry had taken special steps to reduce the problem of pilgrims squatting in public places. It allowed pilgrims to leave for the Jeddah Islamic Port 24 hours before their journey.
“With regard to pilgrims who have come by plane we have told the Umrah companies to provide them accommodation until they get confirmed reservation for return journey,” the minister said.
Pilgrims who came by bus were transported on buses rented from SAPTCO and other transport companies.
“The problem was created by fake agents in some Arab countries,” he said.
Osama Felali, an Umrah company official, said the Haj Ministry was ignoring Umrah firms’ demand to interfere to reduce their losses. He said holding Umrah companies responsible for the delay in finding reservation for pilgrims will cause financial losses for them.
Felali urged the ministry to coordinate with Umrah firms in this matter as a number of companies are likely to leave the market because of financial losses.
Meanwhile, informed sources told Arab News that some Umrah companies have grouped together to face possible losses and provide integrated services to pilgrims. The market is now led by six big companies after the ministry withdrew 12 firms from the market this year and suspended the service of nine others.
