King Salman to cover costs of sacrificial animals for Hajj and Umrah program pilgrims

A vendor takes care of sheep at a livestock market in Jordan's capital of Amman on August 20, 2018, ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha or the "Feast of Sacrifice" which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage or Hajj. (AFP / KHALIL MAZRAAWI)

King Salman will pay for the sacrificial animals for those on the program. (SPA)

• King Salman's program will benefit more than 5,000 pilgrims
• The program enables pilgrims to complete the Hajj rituals

JEDDAH: King Salman has announced that he will pay for the sacrificial animals for thousands of people benefiting from the Hajj and Umrah program, said Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, minister of Islamic affairs, call and guidance.

The program has received this year 5,400 pilgrims from 95 countries. “This grant is for all the program’s guests, including the families of Palestinian martyrs, martyrs of the Egyptian Army and police, the Sudanese Army’s martyrs and wounded soldiers, and martyrs and wounded soldiers of the Yemeni National Army,” said Al-Asheikh.

The grant reflects the king’s appreciation of his guests who have come to perform Hajj this year, and is an extension of his generous support for all Muslims and his efforts to unite them, the minister added.

“King Salman oversees all matters of his program’s guests, and instructs us all to provide every service that makes Hajj easier for them,” Al-Asheikh said.