Taiz Under Siege: 800,000 Residents Isolated and Afraid Amidst Escalating Conflict

The city of Taiz in south-western Yemen is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with its 800,000 residents largely isolated and living in fear. For the past three days, all roads leading into and out of the city have been blocked, cutting off essential supplies and preventing any possibility of escape. Medical warehouses are inaccessible, fuel deliveries have ceased, and food is rapidly diminishing. The United Nations has issued a stark warning that wheat and flour reserves could be depleted within three weeks, exacerbating an already precarious food situation.

An aid worker operating in the suburbs, who monitors violations by both Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces, described the grim reality to The National. "People cannot leave. They are afraid, even of speaking," the aid worker stated. "Whatever little does manage to enter is being taken over by bandits." As supplies dwindle, prices have surged dramatically. Saeed Saif, a co-ordinator for Taiz and Yemen's west coast with the UN Population Fund, confirmed that traders have significantly increased prices during the crisis. "Food prices have gone up by more than 50 per cent since the escalation," he reported from Aden.

Due to escalating security risks, the UN and other international organizations have withdrawn their staff from the province. Mr. Saif, who was in Taiz until September 18, noted that residents are reaching out to family and friends outside the city for assistance, but many requests go unmet, deepening the desperation. "We had sent some fuel to people who needed it two weeks ago. It still hasn't arrived because of the siege," one source revealed.

Taiz, Yemen's third-most populous city, has predominantly remained under government control. However, recent weeks have seen intensified battles as the Houthis strive to capture the city and its surrounding province. Capturing Taiz would provide the rebels a strategic advantage, potentially enabling them to advance further south towards the government's interim capital in Aden and expand their territorial control. The conflict also extends to the Kahboub Mountains in Taiz province, a strategic range overlooking routes to the Bab Al Mandeb strait, where Houthi actions could disrupt a significant portion of global shipping.

The World Food Programme has cautioned that the ongoing blockage of aid could rapidly devolve into a "humanitarian catastrophe." While access to supplies is marginally better in Houthi-controlled suburbs, the situation remains complex and fraught with danger, particularly for women. "As a woman, it's not safe. I can't even go to the souq without facing issues," shared another aid worker, recounting instances of harassment by militias. The National could not independently verify these specific claims.

A pervasive sense of desperation, fear, and isolation grips the city. Mr. Saif expressed that many Yemenis feel abandoned by aid organizations that are unable to provide the necessary support. "People lost trust. They make us feel like we disappointed them. I felt guilty (leaving)," he admitted. Some residents have resigned themselves to their fate, finding repeated displacement due to shifting front lines no longer feasible, often due to financial constraints. The majority of the population lives in constant fear, with Mr. Saif emphasizing the urgent need for psychological support. The protracted nature of the fighting remains a significant concern for the residents of Taiz.