Maryland Couple Dies During Mecca Pilgrimage Amid Extreme Heat

A couple from Bowie, Maryland, Alhaji Alieu Dausy and Haja Isatu Wurie, who had long dreamed of making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, were among the more than 1,000 people who died during the annual five-day pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where temperatures exceeded 120 degrees.

Their daughter, Saida Wurie, recounted her last communication with them, describing how they had walked for over two hours to reach Mount Arafat, a key part of the Hajj process, despite facing extreme heat and a lack of promised transportation.

Dausy and Wurie, committed to their faith, continued their journey despite the harsh conditions. Both were actively involved in Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ U.S. Senate campaign. Alsobrooks expressed her condolences, noting Wurie’s significant contributions locally and globally.

Wurie was also a dedicated member of the county’s African diaspora advisory board and had actively participated in COVID relief and food drives. Additionally, she had traveled to Sierra Leone to assist during the Ebola outbreak.

Saudi officials reported over 1,300 deaths during the Hajj, with pilgrims succumbing to the intense heat, fainting, collapsing, and vomiting. Victims hailed from various countries, including Egypt, Indonesia, India, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Malaysia.

Dausy and Wurie’s children vowed to continue their parents’ charitable work. They plan to visit Saudi Arabia to locate their parents’ burial sites, while currently mourning their loss during the pilgrimage they had always aspired to complete.