Protests against prolonged road closure in Kurram continued on Sunday as residents braved the cold and staged a protest outside the Parachinar Press Club. The blockade has led to a severe shortage of food, medicine and essential commodities in the area, Dawn reports.
Philanthropist Faisal Edhi said more than 50 children have died due to lack of medical facilities, with some sources saying the death toll could be even higher, Dawn reported.
Tehsil council chairman Agha Muzammil Hussain condemned the government for “besieging” Parachinar, thereby worsening the humanitarian crisis. Provincial Assembly member Ali Hadi Irfani also criticized the government’s “unnecessary actions” and called for immediate relief efforts.
Local businesses have been forced to close due to food shortages, and the district administration is in talks to reopen the roads. Despite these serious reports, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government recently rejected claims that the deaths in Upper Kurram were due to a shortage of medicines.
Local chemists and pharmaceutical associations reported supply shortages due to road closures. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Health Ihtesham Ali said no deaths have occurred due to shortage of medicine and stressed that the government is ensuring uninterrupted medical aid.
he/she noted that medical supplies including vaccines and essential medicines worth 30 million Pakistani rupees (PKR) were sent to Kurram, with the medicines being airlifted by helicopter and distributed by local health officials. Ali also acknowledged logistical challenges, including delays in approving medicines at airports, but assured that they were being managed efficiently.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif urged armed groups in the region to voluntarily surrender their weapons, warning that the government could take action if the situation did not improve.
he/she stressed that road access would be restored immediately after the arms handover. The current crisis is further complicated by communal tensions, with the government seeking a long-term solution through talks with local leaders.
