Relief supplies have reached a remote region in northwestern Pakistan after a months-long blockade, officials confirmed. Dozens of trucks carrying food, medicine, and essential supplies arrived in the Kurram district on Wednesday. This follows a fragile ceasefire secured two weeks prior.
The Kurram district has been inaccessible since October due to clashes between rival Shiite and Sunni tribes. A key highway leading to the area was closed following violent clashes in which over 130 people were killed. Access to vital resources like medicine, food, and fuel was severely restricted.
A recent escalation of violence in November, involving an ambush on a government aid convoy, led to further road closures and the wounding of officials. The ambush, in which at least 52 people, mostly Shiite Muslims, were killed, highlighted the ongoing tensions.
Despite the security concerns, a convoy carrying critical relief supplies managed to reach the region. This development marks a positive step towards addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of the affected population.
The conflict between Shiite and Sunni communities in the region has a long history, with previous instances of sectarian violence targeting minority Shiite groups. The recent surge in violence has deeply impacted the region's stability and the livelihoods of local residents.
