Road blockade creates health crisis in Pakistan's remote Kurram district

In Pakistan's remote northwestern district of Kurram, more than 400,000 people are facing a humanitarian emergency as tribal conflicts have blocked the only road connecting the area to the rest of the country.

Cut off from food supplies, medicine, and other essential goods for over two months, residents of this border region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province are growing increasingly desperate, especially in Upper Kurram, where communities struggle to access even basic necessities and healthcare.

Kurram resident Adnan, along with many others, has been battling seasonal illnesses for days. His mother, who suffers from cardiovascular disease and diabetes, exemplifies the dire situation facing this isolated community.

In an interview with Nukta, Adnan revealed that every household has sick members, but hospitals lack the ability to provide adequate treatment and medicine due to closed roads. "The government has just sent routine medicines to hospitals, and all medicines are not available," he said, noting that he cannot obtain the medicine his mother needs.

Another resident of Kurram, Akram, told Nukta that overcrowded hospitals in the district force patients to wait in long queues for basic medication. "Only routine treatment is available for common ailments like cough, flu, and fever, leaving those with more serious conditions to suffer," he lamented.

31 children died in three months

Data obtained from District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Parachinar reveals that between October 1 and December 16, 29 children (aged one day to 2 years) died due to inadequate treatment. Their medical conditions included sepsis, hypothermia, and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Dr. Syed Mir Hassan Jan, Medical Superintendent of DHQ Parachinar, confirmed the deaths of 29 children at the hospital. "They died due to shortage of medicine and proper treatment at hospitals," he said, adding that "two more children died after December 16, but apparently due to premature birth."

Dr. Hassan Jan stated that the health department and hospitals are in complete coordination, and medicines such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, antibiotics, and surgical equipment are available, but the hospital is overcrowded. "We used to treat around 500 patients daily, but the number has increased to 2000 which causes the problems," he clarified.

Emergency helicopter service

According to Ahtisham Ali, Advisor to the Chief Minister of KP on Health, the government has been supplying all necessary medicine to Kurram via helicopter. "Since December 4, 11,710 kilograms of medicine has been sent to Parachinar and 4,500 kilograms to Sadda whereas the government would provide more, if required," he added.

According to the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar, helicopter transport has been provided, and more than 100 people, including 14 patients, have been transported to Peshawar for medical treatment.

Additionally, Edhi air ambulance service has also evacuated 45 critically ill patients to Peshawar so far.

'Imminent' starvation risk

Locals are urging the government to take immediate action to reopen the road, warning that the population faces imminent risk of starvation.

According to Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, the KP Cabinet has declared Kurram district a calamity-hit area. "The provincial cabinet has officially approved a relief emergency in Kurram, aiming to provide essential supplies, including medicine and food, to the affected population," Barrister Saif explained.

The barrister also said that negotiations through a tribal jirga are ongoing as per provincial government directives, and a breakthrough is expected this week, as both parties have requested two days for consultation on the issues.

Deputy Commissioner of Kurram, Javed Mehsud, expressed hope that the roads will reopen after the jirga reaches a final decision that addresses both parties' demands.

Sectarian clashes took more 150 lives

Sectarian violence erupted in Kurram on November 21 after a passenger convoy was ambushed near Bagan, claiming 153 lives and injuring 200 people since then.

According to local sources, the ceasefire requested by the grand jirga failed to hold after two men, Waseem Abbas and Ishaq Hussain, were brutally beheaded in Bagan last night.

According to the apex committee's decision last week, both sides have been given 15 days to sign an agreement that will require the removal of bunkers and weapons from the area beginning February 1, 2025.