As part of its service program for the days of Arbaeen of Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him), the Holy Alawi Shrine’s Lost Persons Guidance Center has expanded its operations to handle cases of lost pilgrims and provide round-the-clock services, drawing on an advanced virtual system and the establishment of several field stations.
Carrying Out a Comprehensive Program
The head of the center, Mustafa Jabbar, announced that the center began implementing its dedicated program well in advance and has established four main stations. These stations include the main center near the al-Saqayah Mosque, a station in the courtyard of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), another station beside the escalators in the “al-Hawli” area, and a further station in the Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) township.
He added:
“All of these centers are connected to a unified virtual system, enabling the exchange of information and coordination with relevant bodies so that the process of locating lost pilgrims can be carried out more quickly and accurately.”
A Range of Services for Pilgrims
Referring to the services provided, the head of the center said:
“A free telephone hotline has been made available to pilgrims, and thousands of copies of guidance maps have been printed and distributed among pilgrims to make it easier for them to find their way to the places of worship and services within the sacred Alawi shrine.”
He also announced the allocation of equipped spaces for the care of lost children and elderly persons, adding:
“These centers are equipped with all necessary facilities, and once the information of a lost person is recorded, it is shared virtually with the relevant bodies so that they may be reunited with their families in the shortest possible time.”
Mustafa Jabbar stated that this program has been carried out with the support of the Qanbar Center for Volunteer Servants, which has dispatched more than 400 volunteer servants to assist the Lost Persons Guidance Center. Among these personnel are individuals fluent in Arabic, Persian, and English, enabling them to communicate with pilgrims of various nationalities and deliver services with the desired speed and quality.
Virtual Connection of Lost Persons Guidance Centers
He also announced an important organizational development this year, stating: “The databases of the lost persons guidance centers at the holy shrines along the pilgrims’ route have been linked together in cooperation with the Information Technology Center. This measure allows for the instant exchange of information and significantly reduces the time needed to identify lost persons and return them to their families.”
It is worth noting that the Holy Alawi Shrine has this year prepared an extensive program to welcome Arbaeen pilgrims, including lodging and hospitality services, transportation, guidance, care, and the use of modern technologies — a program carried out with the goal of providing a safe, organized, and dignified environment for the millions of pilgrims visiting the sacred shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) during the millions-strong Arbaeen pilgrimage season.
