Kurram district’s sectarian strife has deep roots, with decades of sporadic violence claiming thousands of lives. The region’s mountainous terrain and proximity to Afghanistan have further complicated efforts to establish peace.

Parachinar, a predominantly Shi’ite city in north-western Pakistan, has been severed from the rest of the Sunni-majority country by a wave of sectarian violence, leaving its 400,000 residents in the grip of a humanitarian crisis. The closure of the main road leading in and out of the city last month has triggered severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, amplifying the already dire challenges facing the community.

“Our children are dying because of a shortage of food and medicine,” said Munawar Hussain, a tribal leader in Parachinar. His plea captures the desperation felt across the city as families struggle to care for their children and elderly amid freezing temperatures and dwindling supplies.

A City Under Siege

The ongoing conflict between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims in Kurram district, where Parachinar is located, has claimed hundreds of lives this year. In November alone, nearly 100 people were killed in a series of ambushes along the main road, which is now controlled by armed groups from both sects. Efforts by authorities to mediate peace talks between the rival communities have yet to yield results, leaving the road – and by extension, the city – in a state of lockdown.

The blockade has had a devastating impact on the civilian population. Sunni villages near Parachinar face similar fears of venturing outside, while residents of the city itself report being unable to procure basic necessities. “I cannot find any medicine,” lamented Munir Hussain, whose child is hospitalized at Parachinar’s sole state-run medical facility.

Mounting Deaths and Critical Shortages

A health-care worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that at least 34 children have died in recent weeks due to a lack of medicine and basic supplies. The only hospital in the city has run out of oxygen, and cases of pneumonia among children have surged as temperatures plummet below freezing.

Doctors warn that the elderly are also at risk, particularly those with chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions who have run out of their prescribed medications. “We are bracing for a wave of deaths,” said a medical professional. Yet provincial officials have downplayed the crisis. Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, stated that the reported deaths were under investigation and insisted they were not due to medicine shortages.

Despite these assurances, residents and activists accuse the government of failing to address their plight. “These minuscule supplies are not enough for such a large population,” said Laiq Hussain, a local activist, referring to a small shipment of medicine sent by the Edhi Foundation, a private charity.

Humanitarian Efforts Fall Short

The Edhi Foundation’s intervention, which included flying in medicine and evacuating critically ill patients, provided temporary relief but underscored the scale of the crisis. Faisal Edhi, the charity’s head, described conditions in Parachinar as “critical” and called for sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the provincial government to take immediate steps to send more medicine to the region. However, the lack of security on the road remains a significant barrier. Authorities have acknowledged their inability to reopen the route due to the presence of heavily armed groups.

Government Measures and Long-Term Goals

In a bid to restore stability, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has requested federal assistance to deploy the Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Kurram. Key measures outlined by the provincial administration include:

• Enhanced security: Additional police forces and bomb-proof vehicles for tribal districts and key areas.
• Crackdown on disruptors: Individuals threatening peace will face a zero-tolerance policy and could be declared terrorists.
• Sustainable peace efforts: A Grand Jirga continues to mediate between the communities, while authorities aim to dismantle bunkers and confiscate heavy weaponry.

A Region Scarred by History

Kurram district’s sectarian strife has deep roots, with decades of sporadic violence claiming thousands of lives. The region’s mountainous terrain and proximity to Afghanistan have further complicated efforts to establish peace. Land disputes, often entwined with sectarian tensions, fuel the cyclical violence that has plagued the district.

The closure of the Peshawar-Parachinar highway has only exacerbated the suffering of residents, who are now staging protests outside the local press club. The sit-ins reflect growing frustration with the government’s inability to resolve the crisis.

A Cry for Help

For families like Munir Hussain’s, the crisis is not just about numbers or political statements but the lives of their loved ones. As he waits for medicine to arrive, his child’s fate hangs in the balance. Activists and aid organizations are calling for immediate action to break the blockade and ensure the safe delivery of essential supplies.

The people of Parachinar – caught in the crossfire of sectarian violence and governmental inertia – are left to wonder how much longer they can endure. As Munawar Hussain put it, “We are living under tremendous stress.”