Houthi Siege Forces Taiz Households to Ration Ten Liters of Water
Bottled water prices in Yemen's third-largest city have jumped 75% as rebels cut off supply lines and restrict access to local wells.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Families in the Yemeni city of Taiz now stretch ten liters of bottled water over four days, a stark reduction from their previous daily consumption of the same amount. Aid organizations report that the water shortage has reached crisis levels in recent weeks as the Houthi siege tightens around the city's more than one million residents.
Hadil al-Shahid, a hair salon owner, described the new routine by phone. Her household previously used 10 liters of water daily for drinking and cooking. Now, that supply lasts four days. She noted that the family stopped drinking coffee and tea, which were once daily staples. Bottled water costs up to 75% more than it did a few weeks ago, prompting some households to purchase supplies on credit.
The Houthi advance has blocked water trucks from entering Taiz and restricted access to local wells. Desalination plants operate below capacity due to fuel shortages. Truckers who still make the dangerous journey have tripled their rates in some cases. The siege also impacts fuel availability, driving up the cost of cooking gas by more than four times according to Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE. Many residents now burn wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat.
Yemen entered civil war in 2014 when the Houthis captured the north and Sanaa. Taiz has remained a focal point of conflict since then. In August, the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha, located 130 kilometers away. This move secured control over Red Sea shipping routes and allowed rebels to advance on Taiz last month. As they took control of surrounding roads, residents lost access to nearby water sources.
Taiz province has absorbed approximately 124,000 displaced people since August, according to United Nations migration experts. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, stated that some displaced families live in makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day. Flour and rice prices have risen about 50% compared to the summer. Amnesty International warned that Taiz is being pushed to the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster and urged the Houthis to open roads immediately.
The conflict has intensified this week. Houthi missiles struck a residential area, killing two teenage girls. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who shelters with nine relatives in a ruined building, hears explosions daily from fighting 5 kilometers away. He said his income from hauling construction material is unstable, forcing his family to rely on donations for food. Al-Shahid closed her salon as customers prioritized food and water. Her children, aged 10 and 5, now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.
The government holds the city center but faces stiff resistance in the surrounding hills. Three Houthi officials said the group controls about 80% of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods in Taiz, a claim the Associated Press could not verify. Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba acknowledged the tightening grip. Al-Shahid said staying in her home is inevitable, whether it is a matter of life or death.
