Directives issued by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz have accommodated the needs of Muslim Umrah pilgrims and eased their journey to holy sites, said Sudanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul-Azim Al-Karouri.
Taking into consideration ongoing developments in Sudan, the orders proved the Kingdom’s unbound support for the people there and the tough circumstances they are undergoing, Karouri added.
All flights in and out of the country were halted earlier in the day after President Omar Al-Bashir was removed from power by the Sudanese military.
“This stance will address the urgent problem that would have weighed heavily on pilgrims who were about to return to Sudan, before events erupting there and resulted in exceptional emergency circumstances, including the suspension or closure of Sudanese air ports for 24 hours,” the diplomat said in a phone conversation with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Karouri noted that the kingdom’s mobilizing to support troubled pilgrims matches its long-standing history of generous hospitality and keen care for the people of Sudan in dire times.
"This position is not strange to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, it is always a race to provide good and help the needy under such circumstances,” he said whilst noting that King Salman is “known to care for and follow up the services of all pilgrims and Umrah from all parts of the world.”
“His (King Salman) guidance was not limited to providing services. Saudi Arabia is trying to exert efforts and help the Sudanese people amid the ebb and flow of changes and events."
He explained that King Salman’s orders explicitly called to follow up closely on services afforded by all Umrah-linked companies and institutions, especially in terms of accommodating and hosting Sudanese pilgrims until the resumption of flights to Sudan.
King Salman had ordered the Minister of Hajj and Umrah to provide for the pilgrims from Sudan until transport links are resumed.
