By Houda Mzioudet.
Tripoli, 1 October 2013:
The first batch of Libyan pilgrims left Tripoli Mitiga Airport yesterday evening to perform pilgrimage to . . .[restrict]Makkah. Minister of Endowment and Islamic affairs, Ali Mohamed Hamouda joined ministry officials and families of the 150 pilgrims to bid them farewell.
The 5,600 Libyan pilgrims will be flown onboard Libyan Airlines from Labraq, Misrata, Benina, Mitiga and Sebha airports, said the Libyan news agency LANA.
The Libya government has undertaken to pay in full the expenses of families of the martyrs and amputees during the revolution. They make up 30 percent of the total number of Libyan pilgrims. The government will also be paying half of the expenses of the other pilgrims.
A 110-strong supervisory mission also travelled to Makkah with the first group of pilgrims. Its job is look after the housing, transport and medical care of all the Libyan pilgrims.
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