JEDDAH: Volunteers from the India Fraternity Forum began serving Haj pilgrims since the arrival of the first group of Indian Hajis in Jeddah on Oct. 20.
Forum Haj Coordinator Aboobacker Kunhu said the organization would be deploying over 1,000 volunteers in Mina during the peak days of the pilgrimage.
Kunhu said volunteers are at hand to welcome pilgrims on their arrival at the Haj Terminal of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. Volunteers are helping pilgrims collect their baggage and complete formalities, he said, adding that teams of 8 to 10 volunteers are at the Haj Terminal around the clock to assist arriving pilgrims.
The Fraternity Forum, one of the largest social organizations representing expatriates from different parts of India, has been helping Haj pilgrims for the last six years.
In Makkah, forum volunteers are welcoming Indian Hajis by distributing prayer mats and dates, and carrying their luggage to their accommodation.
Leaders of the forum met Consul General Saeed Ahmed Baba and Haj Consul B.S. Mubarak at the Indian Haj Mission in Makkah to discuss ways of effectively organizing the volunteer service in the two holy cities, Kunhu said.
Based on this meeting, volunteers are helping pilgrims reach the two harams and their accommodation, and guiding them to the branch offices of the Indian Haj Mission or its dispensaries whenever necessary.
Since language is an obstacle, the volunteers are also assisting pilgrims to communicate with Tawafa officials in resolving problems.
Kunhu said the forum’s leadership has been collating details of flights bringing Indian Hajis into the Kingdom, and volunteers are on hand to help pilgrims when they arrive in Makkah and Madinah, particularly in unloading luggage and guiding people to their accommodation. He said the volunteers are also helping sick pilgrims get medical help.
Kunhu said the forum has set up its own “Haj Information Center” in Jeddah to coordinate the volunteer service in Makkah and Madinah.
He said all forum members have jobs and participate in the program on a voluntary basis after working hours. He added that the entire operation is judiciously scheduled into shifts to ensure a smooth service and that the number of volunteers will increase in the coming days with the arrival of more pilgrims.
source: arab news
link:http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=128156
No comments:
Post a Comment