VOA常速英语:沙特女性参与安保，为麦加朝觐保驾护航

These Saudi women are fielding distress calls during this year’s Hajj.

“We receive a call, and I check the location and who is calling, then I send the request to the proper authority as fast as possible,especially if it is an emergency like fire or people needing ambulances.”

The calls can also be related to crime or a traffic accident, says the head of the New Women Section.“This is the first center for women in the security field.We have a group of girls who speak English fluently and have high credentials.”

This is part of a slow transition in the conservative Islamic kingdom to ease restrictions on work and education opportunities for women while still enforcing strict gender segregation.The men take distress calls in a room separate from the women. “This step forward is a demonstrate (demonstration) that women can work in any place and in any field.”

For months, Saudi authorities have been preparing to handle outbreaks of disease, fires, violence or stampede like the one that killed hundreds of people during the hajj 2 years ago.

Deborah Block, VOA News.