EU Demands Houthi Rebels End Taiz Siege Amidst Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

The European Union has issued a strong appeal to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, urging them to lift the ongoing siege of Taiz. This call comes as the Yemeni government has alerted the United Nations to the dire humanitarian situation, warning of an impending catastrophe.

Taiz, a city in south-western Yemen under the control of Yemeni government forces, has been subjected to a prolonged siege by the Houthis and currently serves as a primary front line in the civil war. Recent weeks have seen an intensification of fighting between the rebel and government forces, with the rebels reportedly encircling the city.

In a formal statement, the EU emphasized that the Houthis must permit the unimpeded entry of essential supplies, including food, water, medicine, and fuel, into Taiz. The Union also underscored the critical need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to allow humanitarian partners unrestricted access to deliver vital aid.

On Wednesday, the Yemeni government dispatched a letter from Foreign Minister Afrah Al Zouba to senior UN and humanitarian officials. The letter detailed a severe deterioration of conditions within the Taiz governorate, attributing it to a new escalation by the Houthis. Ms. Al Zouba cautioned that the tightened siege on Taiz and its surrounding villages could precipitate a humanitarian disaster impacting over four million people.

This population includes residents trapped within the city and displaced families in districts such as Al Shamayatayn, Al Mawasit, and Jabal Habashi. The Yemeni government implored the UN to exert direct pressure on the Houthis to immediately dismantle the blockade, reopen all access routes for civilians and supply chains, and guarantee the consistent, unhindered delivery of food, fuel, and drinking water.

Furthermore, the government called for enhanced monitoring and documentation of violations to ensure accountability for perpetrators and prevent impunity. Humanitarian agencies have expressed grave concerns regarding the dwindling stocks of food and medical supplies, as well as the capacity of hospitals to treat the thousands of injured individuals.

The UN World Food Programme reported that wheat flour reserves in the city are nearly depleted, warning that remaining food supplies may not last long if access restrictions persist. At least 600,000 people in Taiz are dependent on aid, a figure that includes over 200,000 children.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) noted that front-line hospitals in regions like Marib, Taiz, and Yemen's Red Sea coast are receiving an unprecedented influx of patients wounded by weapons, with some facilities admitting over 700 casualties in a single week. The UN's International Organisation for Migration stated that more than 200,000 people have been displaced from their homes since the recent surge in fighting.

“Trauma care staff are under enormous pressure,” commented Feras Abusamra, ICRC health co-ordinator. He added that only a small fraction of Yemen's operational health centers can offer comprehensive trauma care, while hospitals are grappling with a high volume of wounded patients and severe shortages of surgical supplies, anaesthesia, oxygen, and medicine.

The siege of Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has been ongoing since 2015 and has long been a critical humanitarian flashpoint. Aid organizations have consistently warned that shortages of basic necessities and medical supplies are pushing civilians towards crisis conditions.