Houthi Blockade Leaves Taiz Residents Rationing Water and Food

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil conflict since 2014, a war that has fractured the nation and displaced hundreds of thousands. Recent developments have intensified the struggle for basic survival in Taiz, the country's third-largest urban center, where aid agencies report that conditions have deteriorated to crisis levels over the past few weeks.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have established a siege around the city as their military clash with government troops escalates. Humanitarian groups indicate that the needs of more than one million residents are now barely being satisfied. Access to local wells is limited, fuel for desalination facilities is running low, and the movement of water trucks into the city is largely obstructed.

Households are forced to conserve every available drop. Hadil al-Shahid, who lives with two young children, previously consumed approximately 10 liters of bottled water daily for drinking and cooking. That same volume now lasts her family about four days. She noted that they have given up daily coffee and tea to save resources. The price of bottled water has increased by up to 75% in recent weeks, prompting some families to purchase supplies on credit.

The impact extends beyond water scarcity. Grocery shortages have raised food prices, while limited fuel supplies make it difficult to maintain hospitals and sanitation services. Amnesty International has called on the Houthis to open the roads immediately, warning that the city is nearing the edge of a severe humanitarian disaster. The damage to aging infrastructure, combined with population growth and drought, had already depleted groundwater before the latest military pressure began.

Taiz became a significant front in the broader Iran conflict by August. The Houthis accelerated their advance last month after capturing the port city of Mokha, a strategic location about 130 kilometers away that influences Red Sea shipping. As rebels secured more territory, residents lost access to nearby wells. Truckers making the risky journey have tripled their rates, and water utilities are operating below capacity due to low fuel.

The province has also absorbed roughly half of the people displaced elsewhere in Yemen since August, an estimated 124,000 individuals according to UN migration experts. Jens Laerke, a UN spokesperson, stated that some displaced families live in tents or makeshift shelters and eat only one meal a day. Hani Bafaqih of CARE reported that cooking gas prices have quadrupled, leading some families to burn wood or cardboard. Laerke warned that these shortages create a cycle that increases the risk of disease, including cholera, particularly among those using unprotected wells. Flour and rice prices are about 50% higher than in the summer.

Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who shelters with nine relatives in a ruined building, said his income from hauling construction materials is unstable. He relies heavily on donations for food. Al-Shahid, who owns a hair salon, had to close her business as customers prioritized food and water. Her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese. The government still controls the city center, but the siege hampers resupply efforts for forces facing resistance in the surrounding hills. Analysts view Taiz as a key gateway for the Houthis to push south toward Aden and Lahj. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group predicted that any attempt to seize the city would lead to a prolonged and costly battle. Three Houthi officials claimed the group controls about 80% of the surrounding countryside and several urban neighborhoods, a figure the Associated Press could not verify. Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has acknowledged the rebels' increasing control.

Civilians face daily dangers from the conflict. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles struck a residential area, killing two teenage girls. Abdel Gaber reports hearing explosions daily from fighting about 5 kilometers away, and his family has decided not to return to their mountain village for safety. Al-Shahid cannot afford to leave her home. She stated that staying is inevitable, whether it leads to life or death.