PESHAWAR, Pakistan — On Tuesday, a charitable organization in Pakistan utilized an air ambulance to deliver essential medical supplies to a northwestern region grappling with severe shortages. A local physician reported that 29 children had tragically lost their lives over the past two months due to roadblocks which hindered the passage of life-saving supplies following a series of sectarian clashes.

Although air ambulances are not commonly employed in this part of the world, the ongoing violence in Kurram district has resulted in numerous road closures and at least 130 fatalities. According to Gul Sher Khan, a representative from the Edhi Foundation, the air ambulance will also facilitate the transfer of critically ill patients from Kurram to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The challenges regarding food and medical supply shortages have persisted since October when armed confrontations erupted between Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups. What initially began as a land dispute months earlier escalated into widespread sectarian violence in November, culminating in the loss of 130 lives before a ceasefire was negotiated.

Despite the current hold on hostilities, the major transportation routes remain closed. Javed Ullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of Kurram, indicated that local elder leaders from both Shiite and Sunni communities are engaged in discussions aimed at achieving a lasting cessation of hostilities, which would enable thousands of individuals stranded in the area to be transported to various parts of the country.

In November, a devastating attack claimed the lives of 52 Shiite individuals, including women and children, when unidentified gunmen ambushed a convoy. While no group immediately claimed responsibility for that attack, retaliatory actions were taken by some Shiite members against Sunni communities. Consequently, authorities enacted closures of key roads leading to Kurram for security purposes.

Dr. Mir Hassan Jan, who works at a government hospital in Kurram, reported that the shortage of crucial medical supplies has led to the unfortunate deaths of 29 children within the last two months. He emphasized the dire situation, stating, “Hundreds more patients are at risk as we require a steady supply of medicines in this remote area, especially during the winters when snowfall can obstruct passage.”

Shiite Muslims represent approximately 15% of Pakistan’s 240 million population, which is predominantly Sunni. Tensions between the two sects have a long and troubled history, and Shiite communities are particularly prominent in parts of the Kurram district.