Taiz Besieged Again as Food and Fuel Prices Soar in Yemen

Taiz, Yemen – The southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz is facing the prospect of a full siege after Houthi forces expanded their control in the south and cut the main road linking the city to government-held areas. Food and fuel shortages have emerged rapidly, reviving memories of the 2015-2016 siege that brought severe hardship to residents.

Iskandar Abdullah, 37, a Taiz resident, said he lived through the previous siege and knows well the difficulties people may face. He described 2015-2016 as "extremely harsh" days, when government-aligned forces were pushed into a small area in the city center. Residents then lacked drinking water, food, fuel and medicine; supplies were mainly brought in over rugged mountain terrain, including oxygen cylinders for the sick and wounded.

New developments since early September

In early September, Houthi forces launched a campaign along the Red Sea coast in Taiz province. The group quickly took full control of the port city of Mocha and Dhubab district, home to the Bab al-Mandeb strait – a shipping lane through which about 12 percent of global trade passes.

Although Saudi-backed government forces launched a counteroffensive in early October and regained some territory, the Houthis continued to advance in rural areas around Taiz. By October 4, the Houthis controlled the town of al-Turbah, cutting the last main road connecting Taiz city to government-held areas.

Shortages and soaring prices

According to security sources, fighting and Houthi incursions forced the closure of an important crossing east of the city that had been reopened in 2024. It is an essential route for bringing most food supplies into Taiz.

Nabil Jamil, director of the Taiz province planning and development office, described the current siege as "more comprehensive and more severe" than in 2015. He said not only main roads but also most secondary routes linking rural districts have been affected. About 2.8 million people live in government-held parts of Taiz province, along with roughly 200,000 people newly displaced by fighting along the coast and in rural areas, all facing humanitarian hardship and deteriorating living conditions.

Less than a week after the siege was reimposed, Taiz streets were nearly empty because of the fuel shortage. On the black market, the price of a 20-liter can of gasoline rose from 30,000 Yemeni riyals (about $19) to 90,000 riyals (about $58).

Markets and food shops have seen demand surge as residents rush to stock up, fearing goods will run out. Some residents accused traders of hoarding and monopolizing essential goods amid ineffective market oversight.

Wafiq Saleh, a journalist specializing in economic affairs, said prices of basic goods, especially wheat and flour, have risen markedly, while fruit and vegetable prices have doubled because of difficulties transporting them into the city. He said traders in the city still hold stockpiles sufficient for several months, but some have begun raising prices as soon as fighting reached the outskirts.

Humanitarian concerns

Fighting continues in rural Taiz. Local residents hope government forces can retake recently lost areas or keep advancing west of the city to break the siege. However, the Houthis currently hold the upper hand in the southern part of Taiz.

Salman al-Maqrami, a journalist who tracks Houthi affairs, said the main aim of the siege is to weaken the cohesion of opposing forces in the city, long seen as a hotspot of resistance to the group. In his view, controlling Taiz is also symbolic, allowing the Houthis to demonstrate they can threaten any government-held area, even where the population is hostile to them.

Lawyer Nabil Sharyan, head of the Justice for Rights and Development Organization (JRDO), stressed that civilians must not become a tool of pressure in any conflict. He warned that the new siege will cause major humanitarian losses, especially for the sick, children, women and the elderly, as access to hospitals, health services and medicine becomes difficult; restricted movement also affects students, patients, workers and families.

Sharyan called on the international community, human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies to take a clear stance to ensure people can access basic needs, that roads and crossings are open to civilians and goods, and that patients can reach medical services.

Jamil said local authorities in Taiz have sent letters to the United Nations requesting support to address the crisis and its humanitarian consequences. Their priorities include opening roads and safe corridors for civilians, especially those needing medical treatment, and bringing medicine and food into Taiz. "We are still waiting for a response or intervention on the ground," he said.