Starvation in Parachinar; no shrouds to bury the dead

PARACHINAR: Facing extreme hunger as a result of ongoing humanitarian crisis, people in Parachinar are forced to starve, while not even having shrouds (kafan) to bury the dead. Despite the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, to allocate a Cabinet Division helicopter for relief activities, it appears the region is still facing extreme misery.

The blockade which has been going on for several weeks in Kurram has led to a shortage of essential supplies. The elders are being forced to ‘fast’ so that the children may have food to eat.

“There is literally nothing available at my home now, and we are unable to find edible items to feed our families,” shared a dejected resident.

Owing to the road closure, there has been an increase in the death toll at the hospitals leading to an unfortunate shortage of burial shrouds to cover the dead with. “We are trying our level best to find kafan for the dead from adjoining areas, but it is becoming an ordeal to do so,” lamented one of the mortuary administrators.

Also read: Kurram protests, after 50 children succumb to medicine shortage

Meanwhile, the sit-in that began on Tuesday following the killing of two young men trying to reach their homes, continues as the families sit with their dead, demanding accountability. The protest also spread to other parts of the country, with major junctions like Shahrah-e-Faisal and Numaish in Karachi blocked after Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen gave a call on Tuesday night.

Earlier this week, more than 50 children passed away in hospitals. Medical Superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital had confirmed to HUM News English that 29 children have died in their hospital, while the rest have died in other hospitals.

The main road connecting Parachinar to the neighboring cities has been closed since October 13. As a result, a severe shortage of essential items has developed in the region. This includes food, fuel and medicines. The hospitals in the area have been complaining about medicine shortage for weeks now.

On Thursday, Sky Wings Aviation company, based in Karachi, had announced to run air ambulance service for Parachinar. Prior to this, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s helicopter, Federal Cabinet’s helicopter, and Punjab Health Department’s helicopters were also being used to transport life-saving medicines and to transport critically ill patients from Parachinar to Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Edhi Foundation had also started the air ambulance service for those suffering in the valley.