After 10 years from missing his chance, Ismael back in Makkah to finally perform Hajj

Ismael Maysounah hails from Ghana (SPA)
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Updated 12 June 2024
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After 10 years from missing his chance, Ismael back in Makkah to finally perform Hajj

RIYADH: After a 10-year wait, a pilgrim from Ghana is getting a second chance to perform Hajj.

Ismael Maysounah first came to Makkah in 2013 but fell ill and was unable to complete the journey, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

“I was depressed for not being able to perform all the rituals. For 10 years I was always praying to get the chance to make it again,” he said.

Maysounah was chosen this year to perform Hajj under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program.

Maysounah thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for inviting him this year.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, mandating every adult Muslim to undertake the journey at least once, provided they are financially and physically able.


KSrelief sets emergency camp for Gazans displaced by severe weather

Updated 20 December 2025
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KSrelief sets emergency camp for Gazans displaced by severe weather

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has set up a new emergency camp in the central Gaza Strip, providing shelter to hundreds of families forced from their homes in recent weeks. 

More than 250 tents have been installed to meet immediate needs, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The camp was established after severe weather destroyed large numbers of temporary shelters across the area. 

Aid workers say powerful storms and flooding have swept through central Gaza, flattening hundreds of tents and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Families who have taken shelter in the camp said the new tents have eased some of the immediate strain of displacement. After weeks of exposure to rain and cold, many said the shelters have offered basic protection and a degree of comfort as winter conditions continue.

The camp is part of broader Saudi led efforts to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.