The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has dispatched essential medicines via helicopter to Parachinar, the main city in the northwestern Kurram district, where road closures caused by ongoing sectarian clashes have severely disrupted life.
The clashes, which began on November 21 between Sunni and Shiite communities, have resulted in 133 deaths and over 170 injuries. In response, authorities closed the main roads surrounding Kurram for security reasons. To alleviate the humanitarian crisis, the KP government organized airlifting efforts, sending critical supplies by helicopter.
On December 8, the first batch of medicines and supplies was delivered to Parachinar via an MI-7 helicopter. The second batch is also being sent, with injured patients being airlifted to Peshawar for medical treatment. This effort will continue until the roads are fully reopened.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized the importance of ensuring continuous access to essential medicines and confirmed that the government would keep utilizing helicopters for deliveries until land transport is restored.
The recent sectarian violence in Kurram follows a long history of tension between the Shiite and Sunni communities. The area has experienced repeated clashes, with the most significant conflict occurring in 2007. While a ceasefire has been imposed by tribal elders, residents continue to urge the government to address land disputes to prevent future conflicts.
