JEDDAH, 13 February — About 6,800 pilgrims from Somalia are expected to perform Haj this year, airline sources said yesterday. Somali and Daallo airlines, the only air carriers providing the service, are carrying the pilgrims from Mogadishu and other main cities in central and northern regions of the war-ravaged country.
A total of 576 Somali pilgrims have already landed at Jeddah airport’s Haj terminal, airline executives said, adding that the remaining pilgrims will arrive in the Kingdom on 68 flights by the end of this month.
“The number of Somalis who wish to perform Haj is increasing every year,” Ibrahim Jama Ahmad, area manager of Daallo Airlines, said. “The figure this year is substantially high compared with recent years.”
Since the start of the civil war in 1991 and the ensuing economic hardships, the number of Somalis making the pilgrimage has considerably gone down. “This Haj season, however, we are struggling to meet the high demand for seats,” said Osman Ali Cargo, station manager of Somali Airlines.
“I missed the opportunity to perform the pilgrimage for several seasons, so I made my efforts not to miss it this year,” Ahmad Muhammad, a Somali pilgrim said. “It is a religious obligation for all Muslims. I want to cleanse myself of all past sins as this is a wonderful opportunity Allah has bestowed upon us.”
