About 200 Algerian Umrah pilgrims have slammed the owner of an Algerian company who abandoned their group, leaving them without return air tickets and money for accommodation and food. A 70-year-old Algerian woman pilgrim suffered a heart attack during the crisis and was rushed to the hospital. The situation has also resulted in several women having no mahram (male relatives with whom a woman cannot marry). On Monday several of the elderly people had to endure further suffering because they did not have medicine for their illnesses including diabetes and blood pressure. The pilgrims called on the Algerian embassy to find and punish those involved. The pilgrims are demanding that the company's owner pay them compensation of SR300,000. This is because many of them are now late for work back in their country. The pilgrims are also facing an acute shortage of meals and other requirements for their stay. This has resulted in the Charitable Warehouse in Makkah securing daily meals and other help until a solution is found for their plight. Bulanwaar Al-Haj Al-Taher, official spokesman of the Algerian Traders Federation and one of the victims, said they have been victimized by the Algerian Umrah company. He said their departure has now been delayed by at least ten days. He added that the company had failed to deliver on several other promises. This includes the provision of a hotel 400 meters away from the Grand Mosque. Instead, they were placed in hotels two kilometers away from the Haram, he said. Muhammad Barya Kabir, a surgeon at Tans Hospital, said several women in the group had to pay the equivalent of SR2,000 each, to allow them to leave the Kingdom after the delay by Egyptian planes. Those who were delayed include 28 from Shalaf State, 35 from Wahran State, 45 from Algeria State and 12 women without a Mahram from Innabah State.
