Taiz, Yemen, is currently recognized as one of the most important fronts in Yemen's civil war. The Houthi siege on this city, which is the third largest in Yemen, has severely worsened living conditions for its residents. Ali Hassan, a 42-year-old man, along with his family, has taken refuge under the stairs of a school while Houthi forces are approaching them.
Critical Situation in Taiz
Ali Hassan says that recent clashes between Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia-backed government forces have forced him to flee several times. He also mentioned that in 2021, a Houthi sniper paralyzed his hand, and a month ago, his sister was severely injured while herding sheep and is now completely disabled.
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With the city under siege by Houthi forces and the main road to Aden cut off, residents are facing a serious humanitarian crisis. This siege has not only affected their daily lives but has also led to food and water shortages. Ali Hassan says, "We are facing the fire of the Houthis and a lack of food and water resources while they seek to expand their territory."
Consequences of the Siege for Taiz Residents
Analysts believe that a Houthi victory in Taiz could be one of the biggest turning points in a war that has reignited after a four-year ceasefire. They claim that the Houthis do not have Iranian support and assert that they are fighting against a corrupt regime in Yemen.
Meanwhile, prices in the markets have risen, fuel supplies have run out, and garbage has piled up in the streets. One resident of Taiz, Wathiq Mahyoub, said, "The siege is suffocating the citizens. The Houthis refuse to open passages for us, even to collect the garbage."
The Yemen war began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sana'a, and pushed the government towards Aden. The Saudi military intervention the following year led to a bloody stalemate that continued until the 2022 ceasefire. In recent weeks, government forces have launched operations to retake areas under Houthi control.
Relief organizations have warned about the deteriorating conditions in Yemen. Ahmad Al-Jalal, director of the executive unit managing refugee camps in the Al-Mudhaffar area of Taiz, said, "There is no equipped camp to accommodate these families. We have found some of these families in unfinished buildings."
A spokesperson for the World Health Organization, Tarik Jasarevic, announced that 12 hospitals in Taiz have only four days of fuel left and are facing shortages of oxygen and medicine. He added, "Taiz is being cut off, and its hospitals are running out of resources while the fighting has reached urban areas where the main hospitals are located."
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