Haj volunteers seek government support

Expatriate organizations that provide various voluntary services to pilgrims during the Haj season have called on the government to extend support to enable them to do their job more effectively.
“We will be able to provide better services to pilgrims if we get support from government agencies, like the Interior and Haj Ministries,” said C.H. Basheer, coordinator of the Thanima Voluntary Wing (TVW), which deployed 300 men during Haj this year.
He said government agencies could recruit expatriate volunteers online or through embassies and consulates to serve pilgrims from different countries.
“Many expats are interested in volunteering, but they are afraid to travel to Makkah and the holy sites without permits, fearing arrest or deportation,” Basheer said.
TVW sent its volunteers under the banner of the Industrial City Dawa Center.
“Our volunteers served not only pilgrims from India and Pakistan, but also those from the US, Russia and China, as well as Arab and African countries.”
He said TVW volunteers also supported the Haji and Mutamir Gift Organization by distributing its gifts such as umbrella, water, juice and shoes among the guests of God.
“HMGO’s Director-General Mansour Al-Amir has expressed appreciation of our services.”
Basheer, who has been involved in Haj voluntary services for the last 11 years, emphasized the growing need for such services during Haj, especially to guide foreign pilgrims who cannot speak Arabic or English.
He hoped the government would provide volunteers with permits, accommodation, food and training in coordination with public and private agencies to do their work more efficiently.
“Saudi authorities should also think of providing free Wi-Fi at the holy sites so that pilgrims can use electronic locators.”
The performance of Haj rituals has become easy for pilgrims thanks to hi-tech facilities. “What they need now is guidance, especially to reach their tents after stoning at the Jamrat or performing ‘tawaf Al-Ifada’ (circumambulation) at the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” Basheer said.
He urged authorities to make maps of Mina and other holy sites available early to volunteer organizations.
“They should also provide the numbers of Tawafa organizations in advance,” he said, while praising the support and care given by Saudi police and military officers.
K.M. Abdul Raheem, volunteer captain at TVW, said he was happy about the successful completion of their mission.
“This year, we were able to serve many pilgrims from countries other than India and Pakistan and we had to deal with pilgrims who were suffering from mental problems.”
Some pilgrims who had gotten lost collapsed after walking for more than 24 hours searching for their tents. He advised Tawafa organizations to make sure their pilgrims carry ID cards when leaving their tents.