Houthis’ monthlong siege on Taiz creating hell for trapped Yemenis

What the report says

Houthis’ monthlong siege of Taiz in southwestern Yemen has left residents facing worsening shortages of food, water, fuel and medical supplies, according to Al Jazeera’s report from the city. The blockade, which the article says began after Houthi forces took al-Turbah and cut Taiz’s main route to Aden, has now lasted 30 days and has affected hundreds of thousands of people in and around the governorate.

Al Jazeera reported that the city’s access roads are largely closed, leaving families stranded, disrupting travel for work and forcing residents to use longer, rougher secondary roads with multiple checkpoints. Local officials cited by the outlet described the situation as the most severe siege Taiz has faced since Yemen’s war began in 2014. The report also said rubbish is piling up because waste cannot be moved outside the city, while hospitals are dealing with shortages of medicines and fuel.

The siege has also raised transport costs and limited access to health care. Residents told Al Jazeera that fares have increased sharply, and health officials said access to city hospitals has dropped significantly. People needing treatment abroad are also struggling to leave, including a journalist identified by initials who said his condition worsened while trying to arrange travel for care. Taiz, a major urban center with a large displaced population, has been under varying degrees of Houthi pressure since 2015, but the report says the latest fighting has tightened the encirclement further.