PPIH: All Aceh Hajj pilgrims have arrived safely in Makkah

Banda Aceh – The Aceh Hajj Organising Authority (PPIH) Embarkation Aceh reports that all Aceh Hajj pilgrims (JCH) from 14 flight groups (kloter), totaling 5,484, have arrived safely in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. ‘Alhamdulillah, all pilgrims from Aceh are now in Makkah, from kloter 1 to 14, totaling 5,484, comprising 2,166 men and 3,318 women,’ said Arijal, Head of PPIH Embarkasi Aceh, in Banda Aceh on Wednesday. The last group (kloter 14) departing today numbered 390 people and came from the districts of Bener Meriah, Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Nagan Raya, Aceh Jaya, Aceh Singkil and Langsa. They arrived in the Holy Land at 10:00 Saudi time. All Aceh JCH are accommodated in Sector Six of the Jarwal area, about 2.6 kilometres from Masjid al-Haram. During their stay there, Aceh JCH have Shalawat buses providing 24-hour transportation for pilgrims. Arijal added that the Aceh JCH currently in Saudi Arabia are generally healthy. Although nine people are undergoing treatment there, five have recovered and returned to their lodging. ‘Almost all are in good health; at present four pilgrims are being treated in Saudi hospitals,’ he said. He named the four JCH undergoing treatment: Sarifuddin, Zainab Ibrahim Amin from Aceh Besar, at RSAS; Syarifah Asnizar from Banda Aceh and Razali Mahmud Ben from Langsa, both at King Abdulaziz Hospital. He reminded Aceh JCH to really protect their health while there, and to reduce activity until entering the peak of Hajj. ‘We also hope the pilgrims will safeguard their health and reduce activity before entering the peak of Al Muzna,’ said Arijal. For reference, this year 18 Aceh JCH were unable to depart for Makkah due to death or health issues, whether they failed to depart from their home districts or fell ill after arriving at the Embarkasi Aceh Hajj dormitory.