X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

12 Newborns burned alive after blaze consumed entire maternity ward

11 Aug, 2016
12 Newborns burned alive after blaze consumed entire maternity ward12 Newborns burned alive after blaze consumed entire maternity ward

In a statement given by Jassem Lateef al-Hijami from the Baghdad health directorate, authorities only managed to save seven babies from the ward.

It’s always heartbreaking to hear about precious children and babies perishing in an accident, no matter where they are in the world and the colour of their skin.

That’s why the news about a blaze in a Baghdad hospital that killed at least 12 newborn babies is hard to stomach.

According to a Straits Times report, the fire took place at the maternity ward of the city’s largest hospitals. The fire also killed killed medical and security officials working there.

In a statement given by Jassem Lateef al-Hijami from the Baghdad health directorate, authorities only managed to save seven babies from the ward, and they have since been taken to another ward in the Iraqi capital.

Meanwhile, health ministry spokesperson Ahmed al-Rudeini said that the blaze at the Yarmuk hospital in west Baghdad started when an electrical fault malfunctioned after midnight of August 10.

"Twenty-nine women patients who were in the same ward were evacuated to other hospitals," he said.

While forensic teams searched the fire-ravished remains of the ward, security services sealed off the area.

Outside, the angry and grieving familes of burned victims awaited for answers from authorities.

There could also be seen at the hospital’s entrance charred incubators that survived the accident.

“The grief of the bereaved parents and relatives was compounded by the fact that the babies' young age and the effects of the fire made it very difficult to identify the bodies,” said the Straits Times report.

The report also said that many of the city’s public hospitals are poorly maintained, and that the healthcare offered are well below the standards.

As a result, many Iraqis choose to travel abroad to seek private treatment.

"The hospital is very old and doesn't have fire equipment," Hijami said.

The capital has also seen a series of protest from its citizens due to dismal public services such as quality medical care, electricity and water supply.

“Iraq is one of the world's top oil producers but conflict and endemic graft have prevented that wealth from translating into better living conditions for Iraqis,” said the same report.

Photo credit: AFP / Strats Times

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips .

Partner Stories
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jan Alwyn

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • 12 Newborns burned alive after blaze consumed entire maternity ward
Share:
  • 8 maternity must-haves from Maternity Exchange

    8 maternity must-haves from Maternity Exchange

  • 12-Year-Old girl burnt to death while protecting little brother from fire

    12-Year-Old girl burnt to death while protecting little brother from fire

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

app info
get app banner
  • 8 maternity must-haves from Maternity Exchange

    8 maternity must-haves from Maternity Exchange

  • 12-Year-Old girl burnt to death while protecting little brother from fire

    12-Year-Old girl burnt to death while protecting little brother from fire

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.