Indonesia thanks King Salman for medical evacuation of pilgrim

The Indonesian ambassador to the Kingdom lauded Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for approving the medical evacuation of Sholan Qasim Bint Qasim, a female Indonesian pilgrim who was injured in last year’s Mina stampede.

On his own behalf and on behalf of the government and people of Indonesia, the ambassador expressed thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for this generous gesture, which depicts the effective and pioneering role of the Kingdom in serving Muslim peoples and countries.

The Indonesian ambassador said the Kingdom is foremost among countries in helping the needy in any part of the world. He said the Kingdom’s founder the late King Abdulaziz laid the foundations of humanitarian work in the country at a time when its capabilities were limited and its needs were great in establishing the state, the online newspaper Sabq reported.

Sholan Qasim was one of the victims of the stampede in Mina during the pilgrimage last year. She received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah. After seven months of treatment, her family requested that she be sent home. The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh referred the request to the Kingdom’s government via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jan. 24.
There was coordination with the authorities concerned in the Kingdom and Indonesia on the matter. The Indonesian Embassy also requested for special medical equipment so that she can use them on board the plane that would carry her to Indonesia, as such equipment are not normally available aboard commercial aircraft.

On April 20, the Indonesian Embassy was informed by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the royal approval on April 14 to evacuate Sholan Qasim by a medevac plane to Indonesia.

Doctors treating her had stressed the need for medically evacuating the woman as it was impossible to send her home aboard a commercial airliner even if special medical equipment was made available.

Sholan Qasim arrived in Indonesia on May 1. On arrival at Jakarta International Airport, she was received by the Indonesian minister of health and senior officials in the ministries of foreign affairs and religious affairs.