Medicine shortage in Parachinar claims lives of 50 children amid tribal violence

At least 50 children have died in Parachinar, Kurram district, due to a critical shortage of medicines caused by the closure of roads following armed violence between warring tribes.

The ongoing clashes, which have claimed at least 130 lives since last month, have left thousands stranded and exacerbated shortages of both food and medical supplies.

Local authorities report severe disruptions in the region, with Parachinar residents facing shortages of essential goods as the government struggles to address the tribal conflict. The violence, rooted in decades-old land disputes, has intensified along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Faisal Edhi confirmed the alarming figure, noting that over 50 children had died in local hospitals, unable to receive necessary treatment due to the blockade.

Ali Hadi Irfani, a member of the provincial assembly for Kurram, urged the government to prioritise opening transportation routes rather than focusing on "unnecessary decisions."

In response to the crisis, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has initiated a helicopter service to transport vital supplies and facilitate travel.

Under special instructions from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the service has delivered over 1,850 kilograms of medicine worth Rs12 million to Parachinar. In total, more than Rs60 million worth of supplies have been airlifted into the region through seven helicopter flights.

Additionally, the service has been used to evacuate residents, with 53 people, including 14 patients, transported from Parachinar to Peshawar in a recent flight.

Another helicopter has carried tribal elders and government officials between Parachinar and Tall, further supporting efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.