Jan 16, 2025
By Mustafa Khan
PARACHINAR
In a stark escalation of the ongoing crisis in Kurram district, a convoy carrying essential supplies to the beleaguered region came under attack on Thursday, January 16, in the Bagan area of Lower Kurram.
Unidentified armed men opened fire on the 35-vehicle convoy, resulting in five goods vehicles being hit and two vehicles being set ablaze. Three security forces personnel were injured in the attack and were subsequently transported to Manduri BHU for treatment.
The incident marks another setback in efforts to provide relief to residents who have been reeling under severe shortages for over three and a half months. According to police sources, gunship helicopters were deployed to control the situation, while security forces successfully repelled the militants and initiated a search operation. Ten vehicles from the convoy managed to reach Alizai safely, with the remaining vehicles held back as a precautionary measure.
The attack comes at a critical time when residents of Kurram are facing unprecedented hardships due to prolonged road closures and tribal clashes that have claimed at least 130 lives since November.
The humanitarian crisis in Kurram district continues to spiral out of control. While some supplies have managed to reach the beleaguered region, they remain insufficient to address the dire needs of the residents. Ongoing road closures and tribal clashes have left the district grappling with food shortages, soaring prices, and a collapse of basic services.
Escalating hardships for residents
The closure of roads has cut off the region, leaving citizens unable to access vital goods. Basic food items are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. Tomatoes are being sold at Rs. 750 per kilogram, onions at Rs. 600 per kilogramme, and green chilies at an astonishing Rs. 1,000 per kilogram. The prices of staples like sugar, tea, and ghee have skyrocketed, with a 16-kilogramme tin of ghee costing Rs. 10,500 and a 50kg bag of sugar priced at Rs. 10,000. The scarcity of meat and poultry has further exacerbated the crisis, with live chickens priced at Rs. 800 and chicken meat reaching Rs. 2,000 per kilogramme.
Citizens have expressed their desperation. “We are starving due to the road closures,” lamented Agha Muzammil Hussain, Chairman of Upper Kurram Tehsil. Other residents, such as Mujahid Shehry and Iqrar Hussain, echoed these concerns, highlighting the plight of poor citizens who cannot afford the inflated prices.
In addition to food shortages, residents are suffering from the complete shutdown of public transportation, banking services, and mobile networks. Hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and other businesses remain closed, leaving thousands unemployed. “The closure of bakeries, petrol pumps, hotels, and educational institutions has rendered countless individuals jobless,” noted Haji Abid Hussain, a local trader.
Medical and fuel shortages
The lack of access to medical supplies is also taking a toll on the district. Common medicines like Panadol, typically priced at Rs. 50, are now being sold at Rs. 200. Patients are struggling to find essential medications, according to Anwar Khan, a local resident. Fuel prices have surged, with petrol being sold at Rs. 700 per liter and, in some areas, as high as Rs. 1,000 per liter. Furthermore, the unavailability of petrol and diesel has forced residents to travel on foot for the past two months, stated Arif Hussain, President of the Transport Union.
The ongoing electricity load-shedding and lack of diesel have compounded the issue of water scarcity in Parachinar. “Houses are completely out of water, and there is no means to bring it,” said a local resident. The dire situation has left many without even the most basic necessities of life. “The situation is beyond the public’s capacity to bear,” said Zamin Khan, a tribal leader. “No one has taken effective steps to control prices or ensure availability of essential items.”
Shortage of police personnel for escorting convoys
Despite a peace agreement signed on January 1, the situation remains volatile. The January 4 attack on a government convoy that injured Kurram’s deputy commissioner highlighted the persistent security challenges. While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently claimed the situation was “returning to normal” after 25 vehicles reached the district, Thursday’s attack demonstrates the fragility of these gains.
Earlier, Assistant Commissioner Afrasiab Zubair Hindal stated that measures are underway to provide relief to citizens, including sending food convoys to Parachinar. However, logistical challenges remain. While 101 trucks were scheduled to deliver supplies, only 25 successfully reached the city. Business community representatives report that over 200 trucks are still stranded at toll points. Local citizens have demanded that at least 500 trucks of supplies be sent to Upper Kurram to address the shortages.
According to sources, the district administration lacked police personnel to provide security cover to larger convoys. To address this, the administration is dispatching staggered convoys of only 25 trucks, ensuring that available personnel can securely accompany them. The provincial government had approved the hiring of 400 police personnel, mostly retired army soldiers, for highway security deployment in Kurram. However, these appointments are still in progress in Kohat, leaving the current police force overstretched and unable to guard larger convoys effectively.
Bunkers demolition in process
Meanwhile, the process of demolishing bunkers as part of a peace agreement is ongoing, a step intended to restore stability and reopen transportation routes. However, the prolonged delays have deepened public frustration and highlighted the need for more decisive action.
The citizens of Kurram district are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The scarcity of food, fuel, and medicines has pushed many to the brink, with no clear end in sight. Until road access is restored and effective measures are implemented, the suffering of the people will continue to escalate.
The people of Kurram call upon authorities to expedite efforts to stabilize the region, reopen roads, and provide essential relief. The cost of inaction is clear: widespread hunger, further economic hardship, and a deteriorating public health situation.