Houthi Siege Forces Taiz Families to Ration 10 Liters of Water Over Four Days
Aid groups report that water costs have risen 75 percent and fuel shortages are straining hospitals and sanitation services in Yemen's third-largest city.
By Luana Sato ·
Ten liters of water, which previously sustained a family for a day, now last four days in the Yemeni city of Taiz.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have tightened their siege around the country's third-largest city, pushing water availability to crisis levels in recent weeks. Aid organizations state that the needs of Taiz's more than 1 million residents are barely being met as access to wells is restricted and desalination plants run out of fuel. Water trucks are largely blocked from entering the city, forcing households to stretch every available drop.
Hadil al-Shahid, a hair salon owner with two young children, described the change in daily routine. Her family once used about 10 liters of bottled water per day for drinking and cooking. They now stretch that same amount over four days. "We stopped drinking coffee and tea, which we used to drink daily," she said by phone. Bottled water prices have climbed as much as 75 percent compared to a few weeks ago. Some households are now purchasing supplies on credit to bridge the gap.
The squeeze extends beyond water. Grocery shortages have driven food prices up, and scarce fuel is disrupting hospital operations and sanitation services. Amnesty International has called on the Houthis to open roads into the city immediately. The organization warned that Taiz is being pushed to the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster.
The siege intensified after the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month. This move secured a strategic position near the Red Sea and allowed the rebels to advance on Taiz. As they took control of land and roads, residents lost access to nearby wells. Truckers making the dangerous trip into the city have in some cases tripled their rates. The local water utility and desalination plants are operating well below capacity as fuel reserves dwindle.
Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 people displaced from other parts of Yemen since August. United Nations migration experts note this represents roughly half of the total displaced population in the country. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, said some displaced families live in makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, according to Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE. Some families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat and cooking.
Flour and rice now cost about 50 percent more than they did in the summer. Fuel shortages have also hampered community kitchens and shut down waste collection. Laerke warned that disease, including cholera, becomes more likely as thirsty families turn to unprotected wells. "The shortages feed into each other," he said.
Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives in the ruins of a building, said his income from hauling construction material has become unstable. "We heavily rely on assistance and donations from people to get food," he said. Al-Shahid had to close her hair salon as customers prioritized food and water over personal services. Her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.
The government still holds the center of Taiz, but the siege complicates resupplying its forces. Analysts say controlling Taiz is key if the Houthis want to push south toward Aden and Lahj. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group said any attempt to seize parts of the city would likely mean a prolonged and costly battle. Three Houthi officials, speaking anonymously, claimed the group controls about 80 percent of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods inside the city. The Associated Press could not verify these claims. Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has acknowledged the rebels' tightening grip.
Civilians face daily danger. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles hit a residential area in Taiz and killed two teenage girls. Abdel Gaber said he hears explosions daily from fighting about 5 kilometers away. Al-Shahid said she cannot afford to leave her home. "Staying in our home is inevitable," she said, "whether it be a matter of life or death."
