The Yemeni city of Taiz is facing a rapid deterioration in living and humanitarian conditions, in light of the Houthi group’s advance towards the city and cutting off supply routes, which has prompted residents to store food and fuel in anticipation of the expansion of confrontations and the arrival of the war in their residential neighborhoods.
A report by the British newspaper “The Guardian”, translated by the “Lebanon 24” website, indicated that basic foodstuffs had run out in the markets and prices had risen sharply amid fears of a long-term siege. This reality forced residents to move between stores in search of their needs, while many were unable to bear the exorbitant transportation costs due to the significant increase in fuel prices.
In an example of the difficult living situation, Ali Abdel Samad (48 years old) spent an entire day searching for food for his family of six, visiting more than a dozen stores, before he was able to buy a bag of wheat flour (25 kg) for more than twice its usual price. Abdel Samad explained that most of the food items had disappeared from the markets since October 3, noting that he was forced to sell his wife’s golden ring to secure food for his family after he was unable to provide enough money to store supplies.
Taiz, the third most populous city in Yemen (about one million people), has become besieged from various sides, with supplies of fuel, food, and basic goods cut off as a result of battles between the Houthis and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. In this context, the United Nations World Food Program warned on Monday that the fighting had deprived about 800,000 people in the city of vital aid, even though it was already suffering from high levels of food insecurity.
The report explained that the speed of the Houthis’ advance did not give residents enough time to prepare, which led to crowded stores and gas stations, an increase in the prices of remaining goods, and prompted many to reduce their daily movements after the cost of transportation became prohibitive.
Taiz turned into a new major front line after the Houthi group launched a military campaign last month to control the Yemeni coast overlooking the Red Sea, ending nearly four years of relative calm that was approved under a UN-brokered truce in 2022. According to The Guardian, the Houthis quickly advanced towards the south and took control of more than a thousand kilometers of territory during the past month, reaching control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is vital for global trade.
The group and Saudi Arabia exchanged strikes, as the Houthis launched attacks on Riyadh airport, while the capital, Sanaa, which is under their control, was subjected to Saudi air strikes as part of Riyadh’s support for government forces. The Houthi attack stopped at Taiz, which is of great strategic importance due to its location on the road linking northern and southern Yemen. Its fall may lead to the isolation of Aden (the seat of government) from the northern regions. Despite the city’s rugged terrain and the resistance of government and local forces, which announced a counterattack two weeks ago, residents’ fears remain that the city will eventually fall.
On a daily level, life in Taiz witnessed almost complete paralysis as battles approached. Schools, universities, and many public institutions were closed on October 4th to ensure the safety of students and employees. The report quoted Rawa, a 35-year-old teacher, as saying that studying is no longer a priority under the current circumstances, and that all the population needs is to provide sufficient food and water in the homes.
Roy added that she now spends most of her time at home, and only leaves it when absolutely necessary, noting that her house, located near the front lines in eastern Taiz, is witnessing the sounds of gradually approaching explosions, and that her previous asylum route to her family village south of the city has become cut off.
The newspaper concluded by emphasizing that the population is preparing for a long siege while the prices of food and basic materials continue to rise, doubling the burden on families struggling to secure their needs, despite the success of some of them – such as the Rawa family – in temporarily storing sufficient supplies of food and water amid growing fears of developments in the upcoming battles.
