The Syrian people have waited several long years for this opportunity. On Friday, the first flight carrying the country’s war wounded is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia where they will perform the Hajj.
The direct flight will land in Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport from Damascus. It will be carrying 192 Syrians who have suffered severe injuries during the 14-year conflict. This will mark the Syrians’ first journey to the Hajj in years after flights were suspended due to the war.
The flight was possible through a presidential grant allotted to the relatives of martyrs and wounded. Organizers have said that Saudi Arabia has not spared an effort in facilitating the arrival and accommodating the pilgrims.
Dr. Fayez Matar, who was involved in the process in Syria, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the flight was unprecedented and was being operated by a foreign company.
The injuries suffered by the pilgrims are severe and complex, and include double amputations, complete loss of vision, the loss of one eye, amputations of upper limbs, amputations below the knee and amputations above the knee, partial paralysis, and one case of a full body burn.
On how the pilgrims were chosen, Matar explained that the process was organized by a dedicated committee and focused on people who were injured during the recent years of the war, especially people who were involved in liberation operations against the ousted regime.
Some spots were allocated to people who have older injuries.
The names were chosen in a draw that covered all Syrian regions and was held under the direct supervision of dedicated committees to ensure transparency and fairness, continued Matar.
A number of the travelers spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat from Damascus airport. They expressed their joy and gratitude at the opportunity to perform the Hajj.
Wadih Hajj Mahmoud, from the city of Atarib in southern Aleppo, bid farewell to his wife and four children. Holding back tears, he told Asharq Al-Awsat: “After all the pain and loss we have been through, God has given us the opportunity to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.”
“It is difficult to describe this moment,” he added.
He revealed that he was wounded in August 2016 when he was inspecting a position in the al-Rashideen area west of Aleppo. “I was completely exposed to the enemy (regime army), when I was struck by a shell. It blew up at my feet,” he said, leaving him with an amputation.
“Despite this, I remained determined. I was among the first fighters to storm Aleppo during its liberation,” he added.
Another traveler, Jomaa Qaddour al-Sheikh, another father of four, said he was overwhelmed with emotion at taking the first steps in his Hajj journey.
He lost his left leg in August 2012 during fighting with regime forces. He said several of his comrades were martyred during the battle.
As he made his way to the holy city of Makkah, he said that the pain he was feeling was slowly fading away.
