Peak Hajj 2023, Ministry Of Religion Prepares 100 Wheelchairs And 15 Golf Cars For Elderly Congregations

Illustration. Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia are assisted to walk when they arrive in the country. (doc the Ministry of Transportation)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) has prepared 100 wheelchairs and 15 golf carts at the peak of the hajj in the Mina phase.

Central PPIH Hajj Media Center (MCH) Coordinator, Dodo Murtado, said the tool was specifically for pilgrims who were elderly and high risk pilgrims.

"The significant number of wheelchair facilities and golf cars in Mina are one of the new breakthroughs and the PPIH efforts to serve the pilgrims, especially the elderly, which amounted to around 67 thousand people this year," he said, Monday, June 19, as reported by Antara.

Dodo said, at the peak of the hajj, especially in the Mina phase, the congregation had to walk to Jamarat to throw the jumrah. The closest distance between the tents to Jamarat is about 3 kilometers or km.

Thus, the congregation must walk round and round for 6 km. The furthest distance reaches 7 km or 14 km back and forth.

On the Mina-Jamarat tent route, said Dodo, PPIH prepares elderly service officers who are placed at every point. They will be equipped with a number of devices to make it easier for elderly pilgrims.

"While in Mina, Masyarik will prepare 15 golf cars for the service of the elderly, as well as for the elderly and people with disabilities," he said.

Previously, the Government had brought in 200 wheelchairs to be used at the peak of Hajj as an effort to provide maximum service to the congregation, in line with the theme of organizing this year's Hajj "Ramah Lansia".

"We have sent 200 additional wheelchairs from Indonesia, thank God for the peak of the Hajj (obligations in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina on 8-13 Dzulhijjah)," said Director General of Umrah Hajj (PHU) Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Hilman Latief.

He said the wheelchair assistance came from Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) as many as 100 seats and the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) 100 units.

Attention to pilgrims continues to be increased because this year Mina's condition is in normal condition with a density of 0.9 m2.