Kurram unrest leads to nearly 30 children’s deaths amid medicines shortage

• Medic says district headquarters hospital fails to offer proper care. 
• Several other patients died due to unavailability of surgical services. 
• Official says stock of medicines not enough to meet requirements. 
  

PARACHINAR: At least 29 children have lost their lives in the Kurram district as a result of a severe shortage of medicines, compounded by prolonged road closures, The News reported citing a health department official on Tuesday. 

Dr Syed Mir Hassan Jan, the medical superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital Parachinar, confirmed that since October 1, the facility has been unable to offer proper treatment to patients due to a lack of essential medicines and basic healthcare resources.

In addition to the 29 child fatalities, several other patients have also died because of the unavailability of surgical services, he added. 

Dr Jan issued a stark warning about the looming healthcare crisis unless immediate action is taken to restore medical supplies and services.

In a statement issued to media outlets, the medical superintendent of the DHQ Hospital Parachinar clarified that a stock of medicines was received from Health Directorate Peshawar but it was not enough to meet the requirements of the hospital.

The statement said that clashes in the area caused huge consumption of medicines and surgical items in the hospital. In such circumstances, it said, the issue of shortage of medicines and other logistics would definitely arise.

It said that at present there was an acute shortage of medicines at various units of the hospital and there was a dire need to redress the issue on a humanitarian basis. The statement added that 29 children had died at a hospital from October 1, 2024 till date. It is pertinent to mention here that medicine suppliers were unable to ensure the transportation of the medicines to Parachinar due to the closure of the main Thall-Parachinar Road.

The road closures, which have persisted for 69 days, have also severely affected access to essential goods in Parachinar and Upper Kurram areas. The main roads and the Afghan border remain sealed, causing a critical shortage of food items, fuel, cooking gas, and medicines, leaving the local population in dire straits.

Social activist Asadullah warned of a potential humanitarian disaster. “If the Afghan border and main highways are not reopened immediately and made secure, the region could face a large-scale tragedy,” he said. Asadullah said that efforts should be made to provide food assistance to those in need, adding that dwindling supplies due to the roadblocks were exacerbating the hardship faced by residents.

Local authorities are seeking a resolution through dialogue. The district administration announced that a grand jirga, initially postponed in Kohat, will be reconvened to address the issue and work towards reopening the main highways.