- creator, Sally Nabil
- Position, BBC Arabic
- Report from Egypt
A whole bunch of individuals are believed to have died amid excessive temperatures whereas performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Those that died got here from greater than twenty international locations, with most deaths from Egypt. The BBC visited a group there the place greater than 20 folks had been lacking.
Many Egyptian pilgrims come from poor villages. They spend their financial savings on the religious journey to the holiest metropolis in Islam.
Afendia, a 70-year-old mom of 5 from the northern Menoufia governorate, bought her jewellery to pay for her journey, her youngest son Sayed instructed me, however she died whereas performing her ritual.
“I used to be devastated by my mom’s loss of life,” he says, crying. He explains that going to Hajj was his mom’s largest dream.
Efendia, a widow, went to Mecca on a vacationer visa, not an official Hajj visa.
She was amongst tons of of 1000’s of unregistered pilgrims who hoped to satisfy their spiritual obligation this yr with out acquiring particular Hajj permits.
The Saudi authorities thought of these unofficial visits a violation of their laws. However the strategy of acquiring official Hajj permits can typically turn out to be costly or difficult.
“She could not stand the warmth of the bread.”
Driving an official Hajj caravan in Egypt – a rustic in deep financial disaster – can price round $6,000 (£4,700) per particular person.
Her household says Efendia’s journey was organized by a neighborhood dealer, who requested her for half that quantity however promised her five-star service.
The fact, they are saying, was very completely different.
On Arafat Day, this yr falling on June 15, pilgrims spend from dawn to sundown gathering on Mount Arafat – about 20 kilometers away. [12 miles] From Mecca – for prayers and sermons.
“The bus dropped them off about 12 kilometers from Mount Arafat and left,” says Tariq, Afendia’s eldest son. “She needed to stroll all the way in which.”
“At any time when I referred to as her on video, she would pour water on her head. She couldn’t bear the warmth of the bread.
“On our final name she appeared exhausted.”
Pilgrims normally keep in air-conditioned tents, have buses to move them between the holy websites, and are supplied with medical care.
Efendia and different unregistered pilgrims “didn’t have any of those amenities, they had been fully deserted,” says Al-Sayed. He provides that they tried to guard themselves from the scorching warmth through the use of bedsheets to make a tent.
Her household says they’ve been unable to contact the dealer who organized her journey.
Hajj is likely one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to take part in it as soon as of their lives – if they’re financially and bodily ready – and imagine that they’ll return from the Hajj cleansed of their sins.
It is likely one of the largest annual spiritual gatherings on the planet. Almost two million pilgrims traveled to Mecca this yr.
However nobody anticipated their journey to finish with their loss of life.
“I simply wished I may very well be along with her.”
Egyptian authorities say lots of the deceased pilgrims usually are not registered, making it troublesome to formally decide the loss of life toll. The State Division stated it will take extra effort and time to establish the lifeless and speak to their households.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated that an investigation might be opened into the actions of all tourism corporations concerned in sending unregistered pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“With out my mom, I really feel afraid,” says Manal, Afendia’s eldest daughter, her eyes filled with unhappiness.
She remembers that she began screaming the second she acquired the information of her mom’s loss of life.
Manal tells me with tears streaming down her cheeks: “Shortly earlier than her loss of life, I referred to as my brother and instructed him that she felt her soul leaving her physique. I wanted I had been along with her on the time.”
Efendia died as she lay respiratory within the shadows on the road nook.
Her grieving kids discover some solace in the truth that she was buried in Mecca.
Manal says: “She wished to die and be buried within the Holy Metropolis.”
