ARAFAT: Makkah resident Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Hussein, who works during Haj as a tour guide, has established a center in Arafat to host and guide lost pilgrims.
“The key service the center provides is to make the pilgrims feel secure and psychologically comfortable from the fatigue and weakness they must be feeling after wandering aimlessly for long hours,” said Hussein.
He explained that the moment the pilgrim enters the center, he is given first aid if he or she so requires, is provided water, soft drinks and food until he or she rested. He said the center would afterward take the lost pilgrim to his camp or speak to his or her mutawif (Haj tour guide) to come and pick them up.
“I have been thinking of establishing this center for many years because most of the pilgrims are old and they do not often speak Arabic so serving them is not only an honor but a duty,” he said.
Hussein said the center has a database containing the addresses and contact numbers of all the six main Tawafa establishments providing Haj services to pilgrims from all over the world.
“So by entering the data about the pilgrim we collect from his bracelet, including his name and nationality into the computer, we will immediately know where he lives and who is his mutawif. We will then put him or her into a golf cart and take them to their tents,” he said.
Hussein said the center is manned by Saudi Boy Scouts who speak more than one language.
Hussein said he also has another such center in Misfalah district in Makkah, which is a few kilometers away from the Grand Mosque, giving the same service to pilgrims who got lost.
He said the center has a prayer area for 300 people, a clinic, ambulances and 10 golf carts to transport lost pilgrims.
At least 1,620 Indian and 1,123 Pakistani pilgrims got lost while in Arafat and were later returned to their groups.
