Taiz Water Crisis: Rationing and Prices Spike as Siege Tightens

Residents of Taiz are now stretching 10 liters of water over four days, a sharp reduction from their previous daily consumption. This change reflects the tightening siege by Houthi forces, which has disrupted supply lines and forced families to cut back on basic needs like coffee and tea to conserve resources.

Humanitarian organizations state that the needs of Taiz's more than 1 million residents are barely being met. Access to local wells is restricted, and desalination plants are operating below capacity due to a lack of fuel. Water trucks, which previously provided a steady supply, are largely blocked from entering the city, forcing reliance on smaller, more expensive deliveries.

The cost of hydration has risen sharply. Bottled water prices are up to 75% higher than they were a few weeks ago. Some households are now purchasing water on credit. Hadil al-Shahid, who owns a hair salon in the city, said she had to close her business because customers prioritized food and water expenses over personal services.

The economic strain extends beyond water. Food prices have climbed, with flour and rice costing about 50% more than in the summer. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, leading some families to burn wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. Fuel shortages have also disrupted hospital operations and waste collection, increasing public health risks.

Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 displaced people from other parts of Yemen since August. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, noted that many of these families live in makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day. Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE confirmed that the scarcity of fuel is hampering community kitchens and sanitation services.

The siege has intensified following the Houthi capture of the port city of Mokha last month. This strategic location, about 130 kilometers away, is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. As rebels took control of more land and roads around Taiz, residents lost access to nearby wells and outside deliveries decreased. Truckers making the dangerous trip have in some cases tripled their rates.

The conflict has displaced many residents, including Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who shelters with nine relatives in a ruined building. His income from hauling construction material has become unstable, and he relies heavily on donations for food. Two teenage girls were killed earlier this week when Houthi missiles hit a residential area, underscoring the physical danger alongside the economic squeeze.

Three Houthi officials, speaking anonymously, claimed the group controls about 80% of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods inside the city. Analysts suggest that controlling Taiz is key for the Houthis if they aim to push south toward Aden and Lahj. The government still holds the city center, but resupplying its forces has become complicated by the surrounding resistance.