Black market for Yemeni pilgrims to Mecca active at Saudi-Yemeni border

Black market for Yemeni pilgrims to Mecca active at Saudi-Yemeni border

Saudi and Yemeni Officials at Al-Wadea land border crossing, set up on Monday, a black market for those wishing to perform Umrah.

This coincides with the crowding of thousands at the port.

Travel agencies revealed an agreement between the management of the Yemeni and Saudi ports to force those wishing to enter to perform Umrah to pay sums of money of up to 1,500 Saudi riyals in exchange for allowing them to enter quickly, while the rest are detained at the port for days and nights.

Thousands have been stationed for days at the port, located in a desert area that lacks the most basic needs of life.

According to the journalist Adel al-Maduri, long lines of people stretched for several kilometers, while the authorities banned the entry of private cars despite the presence of children, women and the elderly.

The current disaster is repeated every year as tens of thousands flocking to perform Umrah.