Houthi siege cuts water access for 1 million people in Taiz

Water scarcity in Taiz has moved from a chronic problem to an acute crisis this month. Humanitarian organizations report that the needs of the city's more than 1 million residents are barely being met as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their siege.

The conflict has restricted access to local wells and blocked water trucks from entering the city. Desalination plants operate below capacity due to a severe fuel shortage. As a result, the price of bottled water has increased by as much as 75 percent compared to levels from a few weeks ago.

Families are adjusting their consumption to cope with the higher costs. Hadil al-Shahid, a salon owner, said her household used to consume 10 liters of bottled water daily. That same volume now lasts her family of four for about four days. She stopped buying coffee and tea to conserve the limited supply.

Some residents are purchasing water on credit to maintain their daily intake. The rising cost is part of a wider economic squeeze. Grocery prices have climbed, and cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, according to Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE. Many households now burn wood, charcoal, or cardboard for fuel.

The water utility faces additional strain from fuel shortages. Truckers who continue to make the dangerous journey into the city have in some cases tripled their rates. This shortage impacts public health services, making it harder to keep hospitals running and collect waste.

Displaced residents add to the demand. Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 people displaced elsewhere in Yemen since August, according to United Nations migration experts. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, noted that some displaced families survive on one meal a day in makeshift shelters.

The military advance began after the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month. That location is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. The rebels now control about 80 percent of the surrounding countryside, according to three Houthi officials speaking anonymously. Analysts say holding Taiz is a key step if the group intends to push south toward Aden.

Civilian casualties have increased as fighting approaches the city center. Houthi missiles struck a residential area earlier this week, killing two teenage girls. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives, hears explosions daily from battles about 5 kilometers away.

Al-Shahid said she cannot afford to leave her home in the city. Her 10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese. She described staying in their home as inevitable, regardless of the risks.

Amnesty International has urged 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 as the siege continues to restrict basic supplies.