The Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will come through four debarkations from Saudi Arabia, namely in Padang, Jakarta, Bekasi, and Solo. We are committed to socializing education in anticipation of the spread of COVID-19Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry has implemented anticipatory measures against COVID-19 at four disembarkation points for Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia from July 16–30, 2022.
"The Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will come through four debarkations from Saudi Arabia, namely in Padang, Jakarta, Bekasi, and Solo. We are committed to socializing education in anticipation of the spread of COVID-19," director of domestic Hajj services at the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organizers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Susari, said at an FMB9 Dialogue in Jakarta on Monday.
The four debarkation points in Indonesia are the Padang Debarkation, the Jakarta Debarkation in East Jakarta Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, Bekasi Hajj Dormitory Debarkation, and Solo Debarkation.
The pilgrims returning from July 16 to 30 will be divided into two groups, Susari informed. The first group, that had landed in Medina, will return to Indonesia from Jeddah. The second group , which had landed in Jeddah, will return to Indonesia via the airport in Medina.
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The returning pilgrims will total more than 98 thousand people, including 92,669 regular pilgrims and 940 officers, in 242 batches of flights.
He said 50 percent of the pilgrims will travel on the Garuda Indonesia airline and the rest on Saudia (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines). The average aircraft capacity will be 300–400 pilgrims per airplane.
Garuda Indonesia will bring pilgrims to Aceh, Medan, Padang, Jakarta, Solo, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Makassar, and Lombok, he informed. Meanwhile, Saudia will take pilgrims to Batam, Surabaya, and Palembang, as well as Jakarta-Bekasi.
"It has become a tradition in Indonesia. If one pilgrim returns, he will be picked up by more than one car, or even four cars to the embarkation dorm. We must control this situation to anticipate the spread of COVID-19," Susari said.
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The first batch of Hajj pilgrims is expected to arrive on July 16, 2022, at the Padang Debarkation, Jakarta, and Solo, after departing the day before from Saudi Arabia.
He informed that efforts to anticipate the spread of COVID-19 also need to be carried out when pilgrims arrive at their hometowns since there is a tradition of welcoming pilgrims that could cause mass gatherings and trigger new COVID-19 clusters.
"Even when they return to their respective homes, they must carry out health protocols," he emphasized.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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