The United Nations emphasized on Tuesday that immediate permission must be granted for humanitarian aid to enter the city of Taiz, Yemen, which is under siege by Houthi forces. These forces have blocked the road connecting Taiz to Aden, the temporary capital of the Saudi-backed government, since early October.
The Critical Situation in Taiz
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated in a statement that "humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter this city immediately and its passage must be facilitated." He added: "Aid must reach this city to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe." The siege of Taiz, which is the third largest city in Yemen, poses serious dangers to civilians and has prevented humanitarian aid from reaching and meeting the basic needs of the people.
Humanitarian and Economic Consequences of the Siege
Turk also noted that the siege of Taiz has severely increased the prices of goods and left many residents without food and other basic necessities. His office also pointed to existing restrictions on access to water and essential goods and called for immediate action to address humanitarian needs and reduce risks for civilians. He stated: "Civilians who wish to leave the city must be allowed to do so freely and safely."
According to reports, from August 1 to October 19, 32 civilians, including 9 women and 14 children, lost their lives in Taiz province. Additionally, 115 other civilians, including 34 women and 36 children, were injured. Turk warned that as the fighting approaches densely populated areas of the city, the risk of death and injury to civilians will only increase.
The World Health Organization has also stated that the health system in Taiz is now at serious risk. Tarik Jastrovich, a spokesperson for the organization, stated at a press conference: "The fighting and the closure of roads threaten hospitals' access to fuel, oxygen, medicines, and essential supplies, putting the lives of patients who need lifesaving care at immediate risk."
According to Jastrovich, 12 hospitals in Taiz have only four days of fuel left, and 115 out of 127 essential medicines have less than a week's supply. The health crisis in Yemen is rapidly escalating, and the outbreak of diseases is putting immense pressure on an already strained health system. Across Yemen, suspected cholera cases have increased from 221 cases in the week ending September 12 to 683 cases in the week ending October 10. Yemen has also reported over 22,800 suspected cases of measles and 128 deaths this year, as well as 12,618 suspected cases of dengue and 421 suspected cases of diphtheria.
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