Yemen's Taiz City Under Renewed Siege as Food and Fuel Prices Soar

Taiz city in southwestern Yemen has come under renewed siege following Houthi advances and the closure of key access roads. This situation has triggered severe shortages of food and fuel, reminiscent of the devastating siege between 2015 and 2016. Fuel prices have tripled, and the cost of essential food items has significantly risen.

Highlights

• Houthi forces captured al-Turbah town south of Taiz, cutting off the last main road to the city.
• The closure of vital crossings has severely disrupted food and fuel supplies into Taiz.
• The price of a 20-liter container of petrol surged from 30,000 Yemeni riyals ($19) to 90,000 Yemeni riyals ($58) on the black market.
• Local authorities have appealed to the United Nations (UN) for assistance to address the humanitarian crisis and reopen roads.
• Approximately 2.8 million Taiz residents and 200,000 recently displaced individuals face deepening humanitarian hardship.

Details

In early September, the Houthis launched an offensive along the Red Sea coast of Taiz governorate, gaining full control over the port city of Mocha and the district of Dhubab, which hosts the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. Despite counteroffensives by government forces, the Houthis pressed forward in the Taiz countryside, successfully capturing al-Turbah town by October 4. This move severed the only remaining main road connecting Taiz city to other government-held areas.

Residents like Iskandar Abdullah recall the extreme difficulties faced during the 2015-2016 siege, when basic necessities such as drinking water, food, fuel, and medicine were scarce. Nabil Jamil, director-general of the planning and development office in Taiz governorate, stated that the current siege is "more comprehensive and its impact more severe than in 2015," affecting not only main roads but also most secondary roads connecting rural districts.

The city's streets are reportedly deserted due to fuel shortages, which previously entered via the al-Turbah route. Markets are experiencing a rush as residents stock up on food, fearing supplies will disappear. Some residents accuse traders of hoarding and monopolizing essential goods. Wafiq Saleh, an economic journalist, noted a significant increase in prices for basic commodities like wheat and flour, with vegetable and fruit prices doubling.

Why it matters

The renewed siege on Taiz threatens to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation. Millions of civilians face restricted access to basic necessities, with particular concern for patients, children, women, and the elderly who struggle to reach healthcare services. The international community and humanitarian organizations are urged to intervene to ensure residents' access to basic needs and to keep roads open for civilians and goods. The Houthi objective behind this siege is believed to be to undermine the cohesion of opposing forces in the city and achieve a symbolic victory.