Yemen's Taiz Siege: Water Rationing Hits Families

Aid organizations report that water scarcity in the Yemeni city of Taiz has reached critical levels. Families in the city, which has more than one million residents, are now rationing their supply to survive. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have tightened a siege around the city, restricting access to wells and blocking water trucks from entering. As a result, desalination plants are running short on fuel, and the delivery of drinking water has become unreliable.

Residents describe drastic changes in daily life. Hadil al-Shahid, a local salon owner, said her family used to consume about 10 liters of bottled water per day for drinking and cooking. That same amount now lasts the household approximately four days. She noted that the family stopped drinking coffee and tea to conserve resources. The cost of bottled water has risen by as much as 75% in recent weeks, prompting some households to purchase supplies on credit.

The crisis extends beyond water. Food prices have increased due to grocery shortages, and fuel scarcity is affecting hospitals and sanitation services. Flour and rice cost about 50% more than they did in the summer. Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE stated that cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled. Consequently, some families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. Fuel shortages have also forced community kitchens to close and halted waste collection.

Taiz has become a major hub for displaced people. According to United Nations migration experts, the province has absorbed roughly 124,000 people displaced elsewhere in Yemen since August. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, said some of these families live in makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day. He warned that the interconnected shortages increase the risk of disease, including cholera, particularly as residents use unprotected wells.

The military situation has escalated in recent months. The Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month, a strategic location for Red Sea shipping. They have since advanced toward Taiz, which is about 130 kilometers away. This advance has cut off several roads and wells. Truckers who still risk the journey to deliver water have tripled their rates in some cases. The city's water utility and desalination plants are operating well below capacity as fuel reserves deplete.

Local residents face ongoing financial strain. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives, said his income from hauling construction material has become unstable. He relies heavily on assistance and donations for food. Al-Shahid, who owns a hair salon, closed her business because customers prioritized food and water over services. Her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.

Analysts view Taiz as a strategic target. The government still holds the city center, but the siege complicates resupplying its forces. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group suggested that any attempt by the Houthis to seize parts of the city would likely result in a prolonged and costly battle. Three Houthi officials told The Associated Press that the group controls about 80% of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods inside the city, though these claims remain unverified.

Civilians continue to face direct danger from the conflict. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles hit a residential area in Taiz, killing two teenage girls. Abdel Gaber said he hears explosions daily from fighting about five kilometers away. His family has decided not to return to their mountain village for safety reasons. Al-Shahid said she cannot afford to leave the city. She stated that staying in her home is inevitable, whether it be a matter of life or death.

Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has acknowledged the rebels' tightening grip on the region. 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.