Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has enabled 450 pilgrims with disabilities and orphans to perform the Hajj rituals this year with ease through several special services.

The services provided to the pilgrims come within the the third edition of ministry's national Hajj initiative for persons with disabilities.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with a number of government, and nonprofit agencies, to achieve one of the objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to improve the services provided to the pilgrims.

It also aims at giving pilgrims with disabilities and orphans the opportunity to perform the Hajj rituals with ease and comfort, in addition to enhancing their role in society.

The ministry said they have beem provided modern, well-equipped vehicles for transportation, in addition to allocating a special path for them to perform the rituals inside the holy sites.

Moreover, they were provided with services to meet their needs such as medicines, sign language translators, as well as services provided in Braille.

The national Hajj initiative for people with disabilities and orphans was launched in 1442 AH with the participation of 20 men and women Hajj pilgrims.

The number of participants in the initiative in the Hajj season of 1443 AH reached 300 men and women pilgrims from across Saudi Arabia.