Houthi Siege Strangles Taiz Water Supply, Doubling Household Burdens

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have tightened their grip on Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, forcing residents to stretch ten liters of drinking water over four days. Humanitarian organizations report that the needs of the city's more than one million residents are now barely being met. The crisis has escalated sharply in recent weeks as the conflict with government forces intensifies, cutting off access to essential supplies.

The strain on resources stems from a decade of civil war and recent military advances. In 2014, the Houthis captured much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and pushed the recognized government into exile. Taiz has served as a primary front in this conflict for years. Damage to aging infrastructure, population growth, and frequent droughts had already depleted groundwater before the current siege. Residents previously relied on water trucks, a service that has become increasingly unreliable and expensive.

The situation deteriorated significantly after the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month. Located about 130 kilometers away, Mokha is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. As rebels secured surrounding land and roads, they cut off access to nearby wells and blocked many water trucks from entering the city. Truckers who still make the risky journey have tripled their rates in some cases. Meanwhile, the local water utility and desalination plants operate well below capacity due to fuel shortages.

The economic impact is severe for local families. Hadil al-Shahid, who owns a hair salon, noted that she and her two children now use the same amount of bottled water that previously lasted one day for four days. "We stopped drinking coffee and tea, which we used to drink daily," she said. Bottled water prices have risen by as much as 75% in recent weeks. Some households are now purchasing water on credit. Al-Shahid has closed her salon as customers prioritize food and water, and her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.

The siege has also increased the city's population. Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 displaced people since August, according to United Nations migration experts. This influx, roughly half of all displaced persons in Yemen, has strained infrastructure further. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, leading some families to burn wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. Flour and rice costs are up about 50% compared to summer levels.

Aid groups warn that the compounding shortages raise public health risks. Jens Laerke of the UN emergency aid division stated that some displaced families survive on one meal a day in makeshift shelters. He warned that disease, including cholera, becomes more likely as families use unprotected wells. Amnesty International has urged the Houthis to open roads into the city immediately, describing Taiz as being pushed to "the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster."

Military dynamics continue to shape the daily reality in Taiz. The government holds the city center, but Houthi forces control about 80% of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods, according to three anonymous Houthi officials. Analysts note that controlling Taiz is a key step for the Houthis if they aim to push south toward Aden and Lahj. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles struck a residential area, killing two teenage girls. Residents like Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who shelters in building ruins with nine relatives, hear explosions daily from fighting about five kilometers away. Abdel Gaber said his family will not return to their mountain village, while Al-Shahid said staying in her home is inevitable, "whether it be a matter of life or death."