LOC23:02
20:02 GMT
LONDON, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- Around 19,000 British Muslims are expected to
travel to the holy city of Makkah to perform pilgrimage this year, the Foreign
Office announced on Tuesday.
The office's announcement coincides with formation of the 15th Hajj
Consular Delegation, launched today by Senior Minister of State Baroness Warsi
and Minister for Consular Services Mark Simmonds, to accompany British
pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to provide them with consular assistance,
specifically in cases of death, sickness, or loss of traveling documents.
"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office understands how deeply important the
Hajj is to the British Muslim community and once again we are sending a Hajj
Consular Delegation," Baroness Warsi said in a statement released by the
foreign office.
The British Hajj Delegation has been based in Makkah every year since 1999,
providing appropriate support to more than 250,000 British pilgrims, the
British senior official noted. She noted that services include providing
emergency travel documentation to replace lost or stolen passports, support to
hospitalized pilgrims, making necessary arrangements for bereaved families in
the event of a death, and assisting British pilgrims who were victims of
unscrupulous tour operators.
Baroness Warsi expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi
authorities for making efforts in providing excellent facilities and services
to pilgrims from various countries around the world.
In the same context, the British foreign office is committed to providing
appropriate consular services to British pilgrims during Hajj seasons through
its consular officers on the ground in Makkah and Jeddah, British Minister for
Consular Services Mark Simmonds pointed out in the statement.
In addition, the foreign office has provided a 24 hours telephone line
support for British pilgrims, Simmons noted, calling on pilgrims to commit to
security and safety measures, keep their traveling documents safe at their
reach, and carry copies of their passports and other important documentation
with them. (end)
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