Parachinar is grappling with an extreme humanitarian crisis, where hunger has driven residents to the brink of starvation, while a lack of burial shrouds (kafan) makes even basic funerals an ordeal. Despite Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s directive on Thursday to deploy a Cabinet Division helicopter for relief efforts, the region continues to suffer amidst rising misery.
Reports indicate that the ongoing blockade in Kurram, which has lasted for several weeks, has led to a severe shortage of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel. The situation is dire, and many residents are left with no choice but to sacrifice their own meals so that their children may eat. One resident shared, “There is literally nothing available at my home now, and we are unable to find edible items to feed our families.”
The closure of roads has also had a devastating impact on healthcare, with hospitals overwhelmed by increasing deaths. The shortage of burial shrouds is a stark reminder of the region’s growing desperation. “We are trying our best to find kafan for the dead from adjoining areas, but it is becoming an ordeal,” lamented a mortuary administrator.
In addition, a sit-in protest that began on Tuesday in response to the tragic killings of two young men has gained momentum. The families of the deceased are demanding accountability, and their protest has spread to other parts of the country, including major junctions like Shahrah-e-Faisal and Numaish in Karachi, after the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen called for action.
The crisis has claimed the lives of more than 50 children this week alone. The Medical Superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital confirmed that 29 children had died in their facility, with the remaining fatalities reported in other hospitals across the region. The main road connecting Parachinar to neighboring cities has been blocked since October 13, worsening the shortage of vital resources, including medicines. Local hospitals have been struggling with inadequate supplies for weeks.
In response, several air ambulance services have been activated to bring relief to Parachinar. Sky Wings Aviation, based in Karachi, announced it would run air ambulance services, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, federal cabinet, and Punjab Health Department helicopters have been used to transport critical patients and life-saving medicines to neighboring cities like Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Additionally, the Edhi Foundation has joined efforts to provide air ambulance services for those in need.
Despite these efforts, the situation in Parachinar remains desperate, with the region still in dire need of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of its people.
