Iraq: after the deadly fire of a hospital in Baghdad, the Minister of Health suspended
First aid arrived in front of the Ibn al-Khatib hospital in Baghdad, on the night of April 24, 2021. AP
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In Baghdad, at least 82 people died at Ibn al-Khatib hospital.
This Saturday, April 24, a little after midnight, a fire broke out in the department of this building where patients with the most serious form of Covid-19 are being taken care of.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi announced Sunday that he suspended Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi, who will be questioned as part of the investigation.
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With our correspondent in Baghdad,
Lucile Wassermann
In front of the Ibn al Khatib hospital in the south of Baghdad, dozens of soldiers are deployed to block access to the building.
Behind these walls, that night, more than a hundred people were stranded in a fire, probably caused by the explosion of poorly preserved oxygen cylinders, according to some members of the staff.
This Sunday, the few residents around this hospital are in shock.
"
We heard a thud, like an improvised explosive device," said
Abu Jassim, 55
.
We took some wet cloth and put it on our faces as a mask and walked in.
We took out everyone we could, but there were some people we couldn't reach.
In the end, they just turned to ashes.
"
Sultan Rahman, another local resident, is angry.
The health system has been dilapidated for decades and nobody cares, he laments: “
This hospital doesn't even have fire alarms.
The services are run down.
Since the time of Saddam Hussein, nothing has been done!
We call on this government to act.
We ask Prime Minister Kadhimi to investigate this.
People are dead!
And what was their fault?
"
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To read also: Covid-19: getting sick, a punishment in Iraq
Corruption and mismanagement
After calling a crisis meeting, Prime Minister Moustafa al-Kazimi announced the opening of an investigation.
Above all, he decided to suspend his Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi.
He will be questioned as part of the investigation.
The governor of Baghdad, Mohammed Jaber, who had demanded "
from the Ministry of Health for a commission of inquiry
" into the tragedy will also be heard, as will the head of Health for the east of Baghdad.
"
The results of this investigation will be presented to the government within five days,
" according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.
Iraqi President Barham Saleh was very clear: “
The tragedy of Ibn al-Khatib is the result of years of undermining state institutions through corruption and mismanagement.
"
►
Read also: Iraq faces a second wave of coronavirus
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