Wojciech Rogacin – Vatican
According to Fides News Agency, on August 26, a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Islamabad. Out of the 15 newborns present, only one survived—rescued by a Christian nurse, Razia Noreen. Disregarding the fire, she entered the ward, which was already engulfed in smoke, and emerged a few seconds later holding an infant in her arms.
Security camera footage shows that Noreen tried to re-enter the ward to rescue the other children. However, the heat and smoke prevented her from proceeding further.
“I love children, and taking care of them is my passion,” said Noreen, still deeply moved by the tragedy. “I wanted to save the others, but the fire spread through the ward within two minutes,” she stated after the tragedy, admitting that the event leaves her unable to sleep.
Razia Noreen’s heroic act has also been recognized. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the conferment of the “Sitara-i-Khidmat” (Star of Service) award upon her, one of Pakistan’s civil state honors, along with a cash reward of 10 million rupees, Fides reports.
Vigils and prayers after the tragedy
The small Christian community in Islamabad and Rawalpindi is experiencing the tragedy through prayer and closeness to the families. According to Fides, vigils and commemorative celebrations for the deceased children have been organized in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, while priests and the faithful surround the parents and relatives affected by this unimaginable loss with prayer.
The local Church fully shares the pain of the city and the entire country. “We do not want to be mere spectators of suffering,” say Catholics. The Church wishes to share the city’s suffering and transform prayer into closeness, solidarity, and commitment so that similar tragedies never happen again.
The Archbishop of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Bishop Joseph Arshad, expressed the Catholic community’s grief over the death of the newborns. “The tragic death of these innocent children has deeply saddened everyone,” he said, expressing solidarity with the families and offering condolences for the “irreparable loss.”
The Archbishop also recalled the closeness and prayers of Pope Leo XIV for the affected families, the injured, and all those who suffered as a result of the tragedy. He encouraged prayer that God may grant their parents and relatives “strength and courage.”
Failures in the security system
The government has ordered the suspension of eight hospital employees and the initiation of criminal proceedings against those identified by the investigation as responsible, Fides reports. Financial assistance of 5 million rupees for each affected family has also been announced.
“No compensation,” notes Fr. Qaisar Feroz OFM Cap, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, in an interview with Fides, “can fill the void left by the loss of a newborn child. It is precisely this pain that, as a Catholic community, we strive to share through prayer and presence with the families. In the face of suffering, caring for another human being can become a radical gesture of fraternity.”
