A Pakistani charity has stepped in to help a northern region currently facing a dire medical crisis. On Tuesday, the Edhi Foundation used an air ambulance to deliver much-needed medicines to Kurram district, where a local doctor reported that 29 children have tragically died over the past two months. These deaths occurred because vital supplies could not reach the area due to violent sectarian clashes that have left the roads blocked.
Air ambulances are not commonly seen in Pakistan, but the ongoing violence in Kurram has forced this unusual response. The clashes, which erupted over a land dispute between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, transformed into violent unrest in November, claiming the lives of at least 130 individuals. A spokesman for the Edhi Foundation, Gul Sher Khan, stated that the air ambulance’s role goes beyond delivering medicines; it will also transport critically ill patients from Kurram to Peshawar, which is the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Since October, the region has faced a critical shortage of food and medical supplies. Although a ceasefire has been established, roads remain closed, complicating any hope for recovery. Javed Ullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of Kurram, shared that community elders from both Shiite and Sunni backgrounds are currently negotiating for a permanent peace settlement, allowing the thousands stranded in Kurram to leave for other parts of the country.
The violence peaked in November when a brutal attack by unidentified gunmen resulted in the deaths of 52 Shiite individuals, including women and children. Although no group claimed responsibility for this attack, tensions escalated as Shiites retaliated against Sunni Muslims. Following the violence, the government closed key roads leading to Kurram for security reasons.
Dr. Mir Hassan Jan, working at a government hospital in Kurram, expressed deep concern over the fatalities among children. He pointed out that 29 children lost their lives in just two months due to the lack of essential medicines, warning that hundreds more patients are at risk. “We urgently need a steady supply of medicines in this isolated area, especially as winter snow further complicates travel,” he said.
In a country where Shiite Muslims represent about 15% of the population, tensions between communities have a long history. In Kurram, Shiites are the dominant group, and the ongoing sectarian conflict only exacerbates the hardships faced by many families.
