ALKHOBAR: Haj authorities in India and Pakistan are gearing up for a logistical nightmare after the Arab health ministers’ decision in Cairo on Wednesday to restrict the elderly and children from performing Haj this year.
Egypt too expected a drop by 30 to 40 percent in the number of people performing Umrah and Haj this year following the Cairo recommendations.
The ministers unanimously agreed at the emergency meeting in the Egyptian capital that people over the age of 65 and children under the age of 12 and those with chronic illnesses should be excluded from undertaking the pilgrimage to Makkah.
“The total number of pilgrims will not be restricted,” Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah was quoted as saying by news agencies. “We will not change the quota of any country. We have agreed to change certain rules” in an effort to contain the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, he said. Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) also attended the meeting.
Although the Arab health ministers’ decision has to be ratified by their governments, WHO Regional Director Hussein Gezairi told news agencies it would likely be OK’d by the Saudi government. “The Saudi government will make (these conditions) a requirement ... No one will get their visa unless these requirements are fulfilled,” Gezairi told AFP.
In June, Saudi Arabia had called on the elderly, ill and other unfit Muslims to postpone the journey to Makkah due to fears over the swine flu virus.
“If those above 65 are not be allowed to undertake the journey to Makkah for health reasons then this is bad news for almost 35 percent of our pilgrims,” said Hafiz Naushad Ahmed Azmi, a member of India’s Central Haj Committee (HCI). Speaking to Arab News from India by telephone, Azmi said all those Indians whose Haj applications have been approved are in a celebratory mood. “For them the countdown has already begun. Their preparations are complete in all respects. The money for the once-in-a-lifetime journey has already been deposited with the Haj agencies. They are now only waiting for the Haj visa to be stamped on their passports. All those above 65 will be very disheartened. This will break their hearts,” said Azmi.
Of the 115,000 Indians whose Haj applications have been approved by the HCI, nearly 20 percent are above the age of 65.
“However, those above 65 will not be traveling alone. Some of them are to be accompanied by sons, daughters or other family members. If a man or woman above 65 is now not allowed to undertake the journey then those who were to go along with him or her will also drop their pilgrimage plans,” said Azmi. “So it will affect a large number of intending pilgrims.”
India’s Haj quota is in the excess of 1.5 million. Most of the pilgrims come through the government-supervised Haj Committee while the rest come through private travel operators. Those applying through the Haj Committee plan their journey months in advance. This year, nearly 400,000 Indians applied for Haj through the committee. Of them, only 115,000 were selected as per the quota through a draw of lots.
“Now if those above 65 are to be canceled then we will have to go back to those on the rejected list and approve them. What else can we do? We would like to use our quota to the fullest. To compound the problem we are just three months away from Haj,” said Azmi.
Indian Haj Consul B.S. Mubarak said he was aware of the recommendations made in Cairo regarding Haj visas. “However, it is too early to comment on something that is still in the stage of recommendations,” he said. “We are in constant touch with the Ministry of Haj and with the Haj Committee of India. We are keeping them informed on the swine flu-related guidelines. Unless and until, we get something in writing, we can’t do much,” he added.
Mubarak admitted that if the Cairo recommendations are approved then it would entail huge logistical challenges. “It will be a very cumbersome and painful process ... to reject those who have already been given the green signal before,” he said.
Pakistan faces similar challenges. “If you ask me, nearly 50 percent of our pilgrims are above the age of 65. In the past we have had an overwhelming number of pilgrims in that age group. This year will be no exception,” said Behrullah Hazarvi, the Jeddah-based Pakistan Haj director.
In the Subcontinent, Haj is always undertaken during life’s golden years. “A large number of people in Pakistan wait for their end-of-service benefits before undertaking the pilgrimage. They ensure that they are free of all responsibilities before they head to Makkah. For many, these responsibilities include marrying off their sons and daughters. This has been the convention in the Subcontinent,” he added.
Hazarvi said Saudi Arabia has world-class health care facilities, and it should be able to let everyone in for Haj. “For our people, the decision to perform Haj is taken years in advance. It is not an overnight decision,” he said. “For the elderly, this will be very painful ... one that will shock them beyond words.”
A majority of Pakistanis undertake the pilgrimage under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. “We have a quota of 80,000 and we have received 86,000 applications. Another 40,000 travel to Makkah through private tour operators. The draw of lots for government-administered quota will take place on Aug. 6. If the directions come beforehand then it will make our task easier. We can avoid considering the applications of those above 65,” said Hazarvi.
Hassan Gamal Eddine, undersecretary at the Egyptian Tourism Ministry, told Arab News that if the recommendations of the Arab health ministers are accepted, the number of Egyptian pilgrims will fall considerably as pilgrims above 65 years constituted 40 percent of Haj pilgrims and 30 percent of Umrah pilgrims.
An Egyptian Haj and Umrah tour operator, Barkat Sab of the Baron Travel Agency, said the latest decision is somewhat comforting to the tourism industry in Egypt as the general impression was that the Haj and Umrah season would be canceled this year. “The ministerial decision gave the workers in the industry new hope,” he said.
Egyptian Consul General in Jeddah Ali Al-Asiri said the decision of the ministerial meeting was taken in the best interest of the pilgrims.
It is estimated that 1.2 million Egyptians perform Umrah and 80,000 the Haj pilgrimage annually.
— With input from Galal Fakkar
