At least 29 children have died in Kurram district’s Parachinar city due to a severe shortage of medicines, exacerbated by ongoing road closures that have isolated the region. According to The News, the situation has been deteriorating since October 1, when the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Parachinar started facing critical shortages of essential medical supplies.
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Dr. Syed Mir Hassan Jan, the medical superintendent of DHQ Hospital Parachinar, confirmed that the facility is struggling to provide treatment to patients due to the unavailability of basic healthcare resources. In addition to the 29 child fatalities, several other patients have lost their lives, particularly due to the absence of surgical services.
Shortage Deepened by Road Blockades
The primary cause of the healthcare breakdown is the prolonged closure of the Thall-Parachinar Road, which has been blocked for 69 days. This critical artery connects the region to the rest of the country and is essential for transporting medical supplies, food, and fuel. Ongoing clashes in the area have not only disrupted travel but have also led to a significant consumption of medicines and surgical items within the hospital. The Afghan border, another key supply route, remains sealed, compounding the crisis.
Dr. Jan emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning of an impending healthcare catastrophe if immediate measures are not taken to restore supplies. While a limited stock of medicines was dispatched by the Health Directorate Peshawar, it has proven insufficient to meet the hospital’s needs.
Humanitarian Disaster Looming
The scarcity of essential items is not limited to medicines. The road blockages have left the population in Parachinar and Upper Kurram struggling for basic survival. There is now a critical shortage of food items, cooking gas, and fuel, which has plunged residents into a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Social activist Asadullah underscored the urgency of the matter, warning of a potential large-scale tragedy. “If the Afghan border and main highways are not reopened immediately and made secure, the region could face a disaster of unprecedented scale,” he said. He urged authorities to prioritize food assistance for residents, as dwindling supplies have pushed communities to the brink.
Local Efforts to Resolve the Crisis
Recognizing the dire state of affairs, local authorities are attempting to mediate a resolution. The district administration announced that a grand jirga—a traditional council meeting—will be reconvened to address the prolonged road closures. Previously postponed in Kohat, the jirga aims to facilitate dialogue and negotiate a path toward reopening the main highways and restoring essential access to the area.
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As the crisis intensifies, urgent calls for humanitarian intervention grow louder. The deaths of 29 children and the continued isolation of Parachinar highlight the devastating consequences of neglect and delayed action. Authorities must prioritize the reopening of critical roads and ensure a steady flow of medicines and food supplies to avert further loss of life.