EU Condemns Houthi Siege on Taiz, Demands Urgent Humanitarian Corridor

The European Union has strongly condemned the ongoing Houthi blockade of Taiz city in southwestern Yemen, warning of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe affecting hundreds of thousands of civilians and calling for the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor to ensure unimpeded aid delivery.

In a statement released on Monday, the EU highlighted that Taiz remains under siege and faces significant threats due to a large Houthi military buildup. The city is home to an estimated 800,000 to 950,000 civilians, including internally displaced persons.

The statement urged the Houthi militia to open an urgent humanitarian corridor into the city, ensuring safe, rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to all those in need. It emphasized that the use of civilian starvation as a weapon of war is prohibited under international law, as is the use of civilians as human shields for military objectives.

The European Union reiterated its strong condemnation of the Houthi militia's escalation and attacks on Saudi Arabia, demanding an immediate cessation of all Houthi military operations. The EU described recent Houthi attacks on the Ma'ashiq Presidential Palace in the temporary capital Aden, the continued siege of Taiz, and military operations along Yemen's west coast as "heinous acts."

The bloc called on all parties, including Iran, to cease all forms of military support to the Houthi militia, which it stated is in violation of numerous UN Security Council resolutions. The EU warned that the Houthi military escalation exacerbates the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, increasing food insecurity, and shortages in healthcare and clean drinking water, with over 22 million people requiring humanitarian assistance.

The EU reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, noting an increase in support for the legitimate Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council. The statement stressed that a military solution to the conflict in Yemen is not achievable, urging de-escalation and respect for international law to ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate humanitarian access to those affected.