Movement a struggle for pilgrims atop mountains

The majority of those that appear to be affected are either Indian or Yemeni. They are staying in camps high up in the mountains near the tunnels leading to Makkah on King Abdullah Road.
The road up to these pilgrims’ tents is steep, making walking an arduous experience, especially in the unrelenting heat.
Yemeni pilgrims in these camps in particular have suggested they are being discriminated against, even though Indian Hajis not too far away from them are in exactly the same position.
“We urged the Yemeni government to talk to Saudi authorities and give us a better space for this year’s pilgrimage,” Muhammad Al-Khamri of Haj tour operator Summer Tours and Travel told Arab News.
“They said they would, but I reckon that due to some corruption on our authorities’ part, our request was ignored.”
He added that it is not easy for pilgrims in his camp to travel to the Jamrat Bridge to perform the ritual of stoning the devil because they were so far out and also because they have to climb up and down two levels. He also suggested that the lack of a functional transport system only exacerbated their problems.
“Maybe if we can get a cable car that takes us straight to the Jamrat Bridge, then we’ll happily stay in the mountains!” said Al-Khamri jokingly.
However, he did express concern for less mobile pilgrims, especially the elderly and disabled.
“It is difficult for their companions to push wheelchairs up and down the roads. And for those who can walk but are not as mobile, of course we are concerned about them,” he said.
Al-Khamri’s sentiments were echoed by colleague Rajeh Hussain Badi, who is also editor of the Yemeni newspaper Al-Sawah.
“It’s difficult for all pilgrims to travel to and from our camp to perform their Haj rites, let alone those who are less able to walk long distances,” he said.
Badi joked that Yemenis made a prayer 3,000 years ago to be isolated from the rest of the world because they had a beautiful kingdom at the time and did not need anything else. “Now it appears that our prayers have been answered because we’re isolated from everyone else in Mina!”
Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance Hamoud Al-Hattar said his government had been requesting for a change in location for many years.
“However, the Saudi government has politely declined every time because of the space limits in Mina. We can only keep on trying,” he told Arab News.
Meanwhile, Indian pilgrims from Camp No. 47 have complained of similar problems because they are also based in the mountains.
“It’s been really difficult, because I have my 74-year-old father, who is fitted with a pacemaker,” said 37-year-old Syed Ahmed Ali, who was on his first Haj with his wife and elderly parents.
“We’ve been focusing more on solving the problems, not so much on praying and performing Haj.”
He called on Saudi authorities to consider providing a shuttle service that would take affected Hajis at least a little closer to the Jamrat Bridge. He also condemned the attitude of Saudi staff employed by the pilgrims’ Mutawwif Office, saying they had been unhelpful, rude and unsympathetic.
“There are 1,000 people here, and we’re all struggling to walk to the Jamrat every day in this heat,” added 59-year-old Indian pilgrim Arif Malik, who was performing Haj with his wife.
There are an estimated 40,000 Yemeni pilgrims performing Haj this year, while a record number of over 170,000 Indians are believed to be completing their rites in the holy cities.