The city of Taiz in Yemen, with a population of over 900,000, is in a critical situation due to the siege by Houthi forces. Oxfam aid workers in Yemen have warned that water, gas, and food supplies in this city are severely diminishing.
Escalation of Conflicts and Siege
The Houthi forces, allied with Iran, have nearly besieged the entire city and have cut off most supply routes for food and other resources. Heavy clashes have occurred this week around the city's old airport, causing significant damage to densely populated residential areas. These clashes intensified after internationally recognized government forces and the Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes.
Humanitarian Impacts and Need for Urgent Assistance
Oxfam has stated that the situation in Taiz is so dire that even people with money cannot afford to buy food. Prices have skyrocketed, and basic resources have become scarce in the markets. For example, the price of a 20-liter container of gasoline, which was around $20 before the crisis, has now reached $80. Additionally, the shortage of drinking water has become a fundamental problem, and hospitals are operating without medicine.
Fatima Jafar, Oxfam's legal affairs manager in Yemen, described the siege situation as nearly complete, adding: "All main entrances to the city have been blocked, and clashes continue. People are searching for fresh fruits and cannot even find an apple. Waste is piling up in the city, and the lack of resources will increase the risk of outbreaks of diseases like cholera."
In a plea to donor countries, Oxfam has requested the British government to send more humanitarian aid to Yemen. However, financial assistance to Yemen this year has only reached 23% of the needs of the UN's humanitarian aid program.
While UN diplomats are trying to mediate between the two sides, there are no signs of willingness from either the Houthis or the internationally recognized government for a ceasefire or a long-term agreement. The situation in Yemen is so critical that if this trend continues, there is a likelihood of increased human casualties due to conflict, hunger, and diseases resulting from water shortages.
