Houthi Siege Forces Taiz Residents to Ration Water to 2.5 Liters Daily

Households in the Yemeni city of Taiz now stretch ten liters of bottled water over four days, a drastic reduction from the daily usage that was standard just weeks ago. This rationing reflects a sharp decline in available supply as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their siege around the city. The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, transforming a long-standing water scarcity issue into an acute humanitarian crisis for the population.

Humanitarian organizations state that the needs of Taiz's more than one million residents are barely being met. Access to local wells is restricted, and desalination plants operate below capacity due to fuel shortages. Water trucks, which previously provided a reliable delivery service, are largely blocked from entering the city by rebel forces controlling the surrounding roads.

The cost of hydration has risen sharply. Bottled water now costs up to 75 percent more than it did a few weeks prior. Hadil al-Shahid, a resident with two young children, described the change in household habits. She said, "We stopped drinking coffee and tea, which we used to drink daily." Her family now uses the ten liters that once lasted one day to last four days. Some households have begun purchasing water on credit to manage the increased expense.

The siege extends beyond water infrastructure. Grocery shortages have driven food prices higher, with flour and rice costing about 50 percent more than in the summer. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, according to Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE. In response, some families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. These fuel shortages also impede sanitation services and hospital operations, increasing public health risks.

The region has absorbed a large influx of displaced people. Taiz province has taken in an estimated 124,000 displaced residents since August, according to United Nations migration experts. This figure represents roughly half of those displaced elsewhere in Yemen during that period. Jens Laerke, a UN emergency aid spokesperson, noted that some displaced families survive on one meal a day in makeshift shelters. He warned that the interconnected shortages increase the likelihood of disease, including cholera, particularly as families rely on unprotected wells.

Military dynamics have shifted the frontlines. The Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month, a strategic location about 130 kilometers from Taiz. They advanced toward Taiz in the following weeks, seizing control of land and roads. This move cut off access to nearby wells and disrupted outside deliveries. Truckers who continue to make the route have tripled their rates in some cases. The government holds the city center, but resupplying its forces is complicated by resistance in the surrounding hills.

Analysts view Taiz as a strategic pivot point for further rebel advances toward Aden and Lahj. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group stated that any attempt to seize parts of the city would likely result in a prolonged and costly battle. Three Houthi officials, speaking anonymously, claimed the group controls about 80 percent of the surrounding countryside and several neighborhoods inside the city. Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has acknowledged the rebels' tightening grip on the area.

Civilian casualties have increased. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles struck a residential area, killing two teenage girls. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives in building ruins, reported hearing explosions daily from fighting located about five kilometers away. He said, "We heavily rely on assistance and donations from people to get food." Al-Shahid, who closed her hair salon as customers prioritized food and water, said her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese. She added, "Staying in our home is inevitable, whether it be a matter of life or death."