Residents of the Yemeni city of Taiz are grappling with severe shortages of food, fuel, and other essentials as fighting between Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces intensifies. The city, Yemen’s third most populous with around one million inhabitants, has become a focal point in the ongoing conflict, effectively besieged due to the closure of key supply routes.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Monday that military clashes have cut off vital assistance to approximately 800,000 people in Taiz, where food insecurity was already among the highest nationally. The recent Houthi offensive in the region has rapidly altered the humanitarian situation, prompting residents to rush to stores in an attempt to stockpile limited supplies. Prices for basic goods, including fuel and food, have surged in recent days due to scarcity.
Ali Abdulsamed, a local resident, said he spent a full day searching multiple grocery stores to secure a 25-kilogram bag of wheat flour, which was sold at more than twice the usual price. He described how petrol costs more than doubled last week, making transportation unaffordable for many. Unable to pay for fuel or bus fares, Abdulsamed often walks up to 10 kilometers daily to find food. With limited savings, some residents have resorted to selling personal belongings to afford necessities.
The quiet streets of Taiz’s city center reflect the impact of the conflict. Once busy commercial areas are now nearly deserted, save for those trying to gather supplies amid the sounds of explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the day. The city has not fallen under Houthi control since the civil war began in 2014, but its strategic location at the crossroads between northern and southern Yemen makes it a critical target. Capturing Taiz would allow the Houthis to isolate Aden, the temporary seat of the Yemeni government.
During the last month, Houthi forces have seized more than 1,000 kilometers of territory along the Red Sea coast, gaining control over the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime passage. The advance has included cross-border strikes with Saudi Arabia, resulting in retaliatory attacks on both Riyadh airport and the rebel-controlled capital Sana’a. While the Houthis have been halted at Taiz, the government has launched a counteroffensive to repel the offensive.
Local defense efforts include both government troops and community militias taking advantage of the city’s rugged terrain. However, residents remain concerned that a prolonged siege or offensive could soon engulf the city. Schools, universities, and many public institutions closed on October 4 due to security fears, leaving children out of school and families confined indoors.
A local schoolteacher, who requested anonymity, said residents are focused on securing enough food and water to endure a potential siege rather than on education. She described how public spaces, like parks, have emptied as the fighting draws closer and mobility becomes restricted. Routes to safer areas, including nearby villages, are now blocked, leaving residents trapped within the city.
As the conflict escalates, those in Taiz face not only the immediate dangers of war but also the mounting humanitarian crisis brought on by limited access to essential supplies and rising prices.