BACK

Essential supplies delivered to Kurram

Ali Afzal Afzaal
Sunday, Jan 12, 2025

PARACHINAR: The district administration here on Saturday delivered food and medical supplies to several areas in the Upper Kurram as part of an ongoing relief initiative.

Officials said that seven trucks carrying essential goods had reached three key locations. They said that one truck had been sent to Ghoz Ghari, four to Boshehra and two to Teri Mangal.

The administration said that the distribution of food and medicines to various areas would continue to ensure the residents received necessary assistance.

The official said that in addition to relief efforts, steps were being taken to implement the recently agreed-upon peace accord. The administration announced that the demolition of bunkers in conflict zones would begin soon. In the first phase, bunkers in Baleshkhel and Khar Killay will be dismantled as part of the efforts to restore peace in the region.

Meanwhile, the prolonged closure of transportation routes leading to Kurram district has entered its 100th day, leaving residents grappling with shortage of food, medicines and other basic necessities.

The blockade has also jeopardized the health of several patients, including a five-year-old boy, Muhammad Shehzad, whose eyesight is at risk without urgent medical attention.

Sources said that the blockade had paralyzed daily life in Parachinar, Boshehra and over 100 surrounding villages. Local shops have run out of essentials and medicines, leaving markets and restaurants shuttered. The residents have been pleading for an immediate resumption of supply convoys and transportation services.

The scarcity has reduced markets to a handful of items, with only potatoes, tomatoes, and onions available, according to Haji Imdad, President of the local Trade Union. He added that while a few trucks carrying supplies recently arrived, their contents were quickly purchased by desperate locals.

The lack of medical supplies has compounded the crisis at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

Dr Saqlain, an eye specialist at the hospital, warned of dire consequences for patients who cannot be transported to Peshawar for treatment.

Among them is Muhammad Shehzad, whose eye injuries require immediate specialized care, Shahbaz Hussain, who sustained severe eye damage from a battery explosion, and Askar Hussain, who risks losing his eyesight due to a tumor.

Dr Mir Hassan Jan, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, said that though the delivery of medicines by helicopter had eased the burden, the current halt in supplies had created challenges for them.

Social activist Mir Afzal Khan called for resuming convoys not only for delivering supplies but also for enabling the movement of stranded people.

Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan said that efforts were underway to clear main roads and resume convoys to bring relief to the affected population. “We are taking all possible measures to ensure the restoration of supplies and transportation services,” he said.

The authorities in Kurram have initiated action to dismantle the bunkers in line with the 14-point Kohat Peace Agreement. Among the key points of the agreement was the removal of such structures, which have been a source of tension and violence in the region.

Deputy Commissioner, Kurram, Ashfaq Khan, has directed relevant departments for necessary action. “Demolition work will begin today in Balishkhel and Khar Killay to remove bunkers followed by operations in other areas,” he stated in a letter.The decision comes in the wake of a recent attack near the Balishkhel checkpoint, where gunfire was directed at a police armoured vehicle from a bunker. Though no casualties were reported, the incident underscored the risks posed by such structures in perpetuating conflict. The dismantling of these fortifications is seen as a critical step toward sustaining peace in the region. Authorities believe the move will help prevent future clashes and foster better relations between tribal communities.