Sierra Leone lauds KSA’s Haj preparations

The Sierra Leone Embassy in the Saudi capital has expressed appreciation of the Kingdom’s efforts in facilitating Haj this year.
“Haj services and facilities have continuously improved over the years, making the pilgrimage evermore comfortable and convenient,” Sierra Leone Ambassador Alhaji M.S. Kargbo told Arab News on Monday.
He said that appreciation for the vastly improved facilities and services came from Sierra Leonean pilgrims who had performed Haj in the past.
“We are also thankful to the Saudi government for the hospitality and impressive support that our pilgrims receive on their arrival in the Kingdom,” he said.
Information Attache Alhaji Jalloh added that two groups of Sierra Leonean pilgrims will arrive in the Kingdom in September to perform Haj this year.
The first group of 500 pilgrims will arrive on Sept. 22 and another 500 pilgrims will arrive the following day. The pilgrims will be headed by Moijue Keikei, who has arrived to sign contracts with the Saudi Haj Ministry, airline, accommodation provider and food caterer.
“The Haj delegation will also be accompanied by a medical team to ensure comfort and good health condition while performing Haj in the Kingdom,” Jalloh said. The pilgrims will touch down at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Many of these pilgrims end up staying for longer periods to visit other places within the Kingdom for shopping and socializing with friends who live in the country.
“As far as the Sierra Leonean pilgrims are concerned, coming to the Kingdom is always meaningful and historic,” he said.
The mission received a 26-seater bus and ambulance, bought by the Sierra Leone Haj mission a few years ago.
“The purpose in purchasing the two vehicles is to ease the suffering of the sick, aged and disabled,” he said.