HRW Urges Houthis to Lift Taiz Siege Amid Food and Medicine Shortages

Human Rights Watch has urgently called for the Houthi militia to immediately lift the siege imposed on the city of Taiz, appealing to all parties in the conflict to prioritize the entry of essential supplies amidst a dire humanitarian crisis marked by severe shortages of food, water, and medical provisions.

The organization's demand follows United Nations warnings regarding the depletion of food aid reserves within the city. The UN reported that humanitarian organizations distributed their last available food parcels last week, while water supplies have decreased by 50%. Hospitals are reportedly on the verge of running out of essential medicines, oxygen, and fuel.

The Houthi militia imposed a blockade on Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city and provincial capital, after seizing surrounding areas and key routes. The city has remained under the control of government forces, a situation that has critically hampered the delivery of essential supplies and exacerbated the living conditions for its residents.

The flow of food, fuel, and medicine has been largely cut off. The World Food Programme has issued warnings that wheat and flour reserves could be depleted within weeks, potentially leading to the suspension of aid for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.

This situation has coincided with a significant increase in the prices of basic commodities, ranging from 40% to 50% or more. The costs of gasoline and water have doubled, intensifying the strain on healthcare facilities that face the imminent risk of running out of the fuel, oxygen, and medicines necessary for their operation and for providing patient care.

These developments portend a further humanitarian deterioration in Taiz, as restrictions on the entry of supplies persist. Concerns are escalating regarding the impact of the shortages in food, water, and medical services on the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.