Family of Maryland Couple Pleads for Help Finding Burial Site in Saudi Arabia
The Wurie family from Maryland is in mourning after the tragic death of Alieu Dausy Wurie and Isatu Tejan Wurie during their pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj. The couple had saved their entire lives for this trip of a lifetime, but their journey ended in tragedy due to extreme temperatures and lack of resources.
According to their daughter, Saida Wurie, the couple had paid for an all-inclusive package with a travel company but were not provided with adequate food, supplies, and transportation. Their last conversation with their daughter took place on June 15 when they were stranded and had to walk for over two hours to reach their destination.
The Wurie family is now pleading with the government of Saudi Arabia to help them locate where their loved ones are buried. Despite being told by the U.S. Embassy that the couple died of natural causes, the family has been unable to locate their bodies for a proper burial.
With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees during this year’s Hajj, nearly 500 deaths have been reported. The Wurie family’s heartbreaking plea for closure and the opportunity to give their parents a proper burial has yet to be fulfilled.
“We are holding on to hope that we will be able to locate our parents and give them the burial they deserve,” said Wurie. “We are asking the Saudi government to assist us in this difficult time so that we can find peace and closure.”