Source ::: The PENINSULA / By Mohamed Saeed
DOHA: The swine flu scare and reports of six people having died of the disease in Saudi Arabia have done little to dampen the spirit of devout Muslims here, as Haj tour operators say there is a big rush this year for the pilgrimage.
And there literally is a beeline of people willing to go to Saudi Arabia for Umrah during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
“Our quota (the number of people we are allowed to carry for Haj) for this year is already full and we are now putting applicants on the wait list,” said Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, from Huda Haj and Umrah office, talking of the rush.
The operators are licensed by Qatar’s Haj Committee and allotted quotas for the number of people they can carry for the pilgrimage every year.
There is a big rush for Haj and Umrah this year although people are well aware of the fact that so far 595 people have been infected by the A(H1N1) virus in Saudi Arabia and six have already perished.
Millions of Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah during the fasting month of Ramadan every year and more than two million converge from all over the world for Haj.
The Saudi government fixes Haj quotas (specifying the number of people who can come for Haj) each year for every country, including Qatar. From here, both nationals and expatriates travel for Umrah and Haj.
Due to the swine flu scare, tour operators are taking doctors with their groups this year. And before a person is taken for the pilgrimage, he or she is to be thoroughly interviewed by a doctor about his or her medical history. Women are to be interviewed by female doctors.
The Haj Committee has asked the operators to make potential pilgrims aware of the health risks and the precautionary measures to be taken, said Mohamed bin Johar Al Mohamed, another Haj tour operator.
Word is yet to come from the Haj panel about not allowing people above 65 years of age and children below 12 years to go for Haj. “These are the vulnerable categories and the panel might soon announce its decision,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed Badra Al Sada, yet another operator, confirmed there was a big rush for both Haj and Umrah this year.
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