The Yemeni city of Taiz faces a growing humanitarian crisis as the Iran-backed Houthi militia intensifies its siege, cutting off access to food, water, and medical supplies. The encirclement, which began earlier this month amid escalating conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, has left residents trapped with diminishing resources.

Taiz, a densely populated cultural hub in southwestern Yemen, has been surrounded by Houthi forces following their seizure of the last road linking the city to southern Yemen. The blockade has effectively choked off deliveries of essential goods and services, prompting warnings from local officials and international observers. Households report shortages of food and clean drinking water, while hospitals face critical fuel and medication deficits.

Residents like Alhan Al-Shibani describe the situation as “truly catastrophic,” with her family resorting to boiling salty tap water and struggling to find medication for chronic conditions such as diabetes. Fresh vegetables have become nearly impossible to obtain, and many households are forced to use firewood, coal, or cardboard to prepare meals due to a lack of gas.

The Houthis blame government forces allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized administration for obstructing supply routes into Taiz. Ahmad Ameen, governor of Houthi-controlled areas in the province, asserted the group’s willingness to open "safe roads" to facilitate humanitarian aid and alleviate civilian suffering.

Despite these claims, fighting continues along the city's outskirts, with government troops and Houthi fighters engaged in intense combat supported by Saudi airstrikes. Col. Abdul Basit al-Baher, representing the government forces, described the encirclement as leaving them feeling "trapped from all sides" and warned of dwindling weaponry supplies. He rejected calls for surrender, emphasizing resistance as preferable to living under Houthi control.

The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, expressed deep concern over the blockade, urging the Houthis to permit humanitarian access to prevent further civilian harm. Since the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014 and much of northern Yemen, they have periodically besieged Taiz, but recent hostilities have intensified the city’s isolation to unprecedented levels.

The conflict’s escalation follows a fragile truce established in 2022 and coincides with broader regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The United Nations reported that over 250,000 people have been displaced across Yemen since August alone.

Health officials in Taiz warn that medical services are nearing collapse. Dr. Ilan Abdul Haq, the city’s deputy health governor, said hospitals are close to shutting down, with critical shortages of fuel and lifesaving medications. Mohammed al-Faqih, director of infection control at Taiz’s main hospital, al-Thawra, warned that continued blockade could lead to a health catastrophe, endangering patients with chronic diseases and cancer alike.

As the siege prolongs, the humanitarian situation in Taiz becomes increasingly dire, with many residents facing an uncertain future amid ongoing conflict and scarce resources.