The United Nations has called for urgent humanitarian access to the city of Taiz in Yemen, which remains under siege by Houthi forces. Since early October, fighters aligned with the Iran-backed Houthis have surrounded Taiz, obstructing the main supply route connecting the city to Aden, the interim capital controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

The blockade has effectively cut off essential goods and aid from reaching Yemen’s third-largest city, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, emphasized the immediate need for aid delivery, stating that assistance must be allowed to enter Taiz without delay and that access routes should be facilitated to provide critical relief to residents.

The Houthis’ control over the road between Taiz and Aden has prevented humanitarian organizations from delivering food, medicine, and other vital supplies, intensifying the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict. The UN’s appeal underscores the importance of unhindered humanitarian operations amid ongoing hostilities in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been engaged against the Houthis since 2015.

Efforts to negotiate ceasefires or safe passages for aid have encountered difficulties, with both sides blaming each other for the deteriorating conditions. The international community continues to urge all parties to prioritize humanitarian considerations, aiming to alleviate the growing hardship faced by Yemen’s population as the conflict persists.