KURRAM: Kurram locals braved frigid weather to participate in a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club on Sunday as part of ongoing protests over the extended shutdown of transit lines.
According to philanthropist Faisal Edhi, 50 children have perished as a result of hospitals and other health centers’ inadequate medical capabilities, although other sources indicated the death toll may be significantly higher.
Tehsil Council Chairman Agha Muzammil Hussain bemoaned to demonstrators that road closures had besieged the residents of Parachinar and the adjacent districts, and that the situation had gotten worse due to acute shortages of basic food supplies and medications.
He said that the government’s measures “amount to leaving innocent people at the mercy of terrorists” and criticized it for being “bent on disarming besieged citizens.” Under no circumstances can we tolerate such policies.
In addition, MPA Ali Hadi Irfani criticized the administration for taking “unnecessary decisions” and demanded immediate action to guarantee relief efforts and public safety. He asked the government to take more decisive action to alleviate the problem and commended Faisal Edhi’s initiatives.
In order to transfer patients from Parachinar to Peshawar and provide medications back to the area under siege, Faisal Edhi has started an air ambulance service. According to him, the lack of medical facilities has resulted in the deaths of over fifty children at nearby hospitals.
Due to a paucity of supplies, eateries, tandoors, and other businesses are staying closed, and residents are also experiencing acute food shortages. Gas, cooking oil, and other necessities are still in short supply, making it difficult for families to make ends meet.
Officials from the district administration stated that while patients were being transported to Peshawar and medications were being transported to the region via helicopter, talks were in progress to open the roads and implement other measures.
KP helicopter service
In response to the issue, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also started offering helicopter services. According to the APP, 53 people—14 of whom were patients—were flown from Parachinar to safer areas in Peshawar on Saturday.
In addition, the first helicopter trip on Sunday moved 16 jirga members and government staff to Parachinar, the second flight sent another 27 individuals to Thall, and the third flight moved stranded Thall residents to Parachinar.
An official statement said that more than 100 people were scheduled to be moved by helicopter on Sunday, and that additional medications and necessary equipment will be brought to Parachinar.
1,850 kg of medications valued at Rs12 million were airlifted to Parachinar on Saturday, according to the authorities. Seven helicopter flights have delivered medications totaling Rs60 million, including life-saving medications.
Relief efforts in Punjab
According to the APP, the Punjab government dispatched a second shipment of forty-one necessities, including medications, to Parachinar on Sunday.
Authorities said that more medications were being shipped to Parachinar. Insulin, the rabies vaccination, and other life-saving medications were among the 24 vital medications.
Twelve sizable shipments of necessary medications have arrived in Parachinar thus far, and plans have been finalized for the delivery of additional medications. Additionally, an elderly Parachinar patient was recently evacuated to Islamabad for urgent surgery.
Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, stated that her government is putting humanitarian help ahead of politics.
