Human Rights Watch Urges Houthis to Lift Taiz Siege Amid Starvation Fears

Human Rights Watch has urgently called for the immediate lifting of the blockade imposed on the Yemeni city of Taiz by Houthi forces, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions and critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

The organization's demand follows stark warnings from the United Nations regarding dwindling food aid reserves in the city. The UN reported that humanitarian organizations distributed their last available food parcels last week. Water supplies have reportedly decreased by 50%, and hospitals are nearing depletion of essential medicines, oxygen, and fuel.

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

Access to food, fuel, and medicine has been largely cut off. The World Food Programme has warned of imminent wheat and flour shortages within weeks, potentially leading to a cessation of aid for hundreds of thousands of residents.

These restrictions have coincided with a surge in the prices of basic commodities, ranging from 40% to 50% or more. The cost of gasoline and water has doubled, intensifying the strain on healthcare facilities that are at risk of running out of fuel, oxygen, and medications necessary for their operation and patient care.

These developments portend a further humanitarian crisis in Taiz, as restrictions on the entry of vital supplies persist. Concerns are mounting over the impact of shortages in food, water, and medical services on the lives of hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.