Water Prices in Taiz Climb 75 Percent as Houthi Siege Blocks Supply Lines

The cost of bottled water in the Yemeni city of Taiz has risen by 75 percent over the past few weeks.

Humanitarian organizations report that access to drinking water for the city's more than one million residents has deteriorated sharply. Iran-backed Houthi forces have tightened their siege around the city as the conflict with government troops intensifies. Aid workers state that the needs of the population are now barely being met due to restricted access to wells, fuel shortages at desalination plants, and blocked entry points for water trucks.

Households have adjusted their consumption to cope with the scarcity. Hadil al-Shahid, a hair salon owner, described how her family previously used approximately ten liters of bottled water daily for drinking and cooking. That same amount now lasts her family roughly four days. She noted that they have stopped drinking coffee and tea, habits they maintained daily until recently. Some families are purchasing water on credit to manage the higher costs.

The water crisis is compounded by broader economic pressures. Food prices have increased as grocery supplies dwindle. Fuel shortages have disrupted hospital operations and sanitation services, raising public health risks. Amnesty International has called on Houthi leaders to open roads into the city immediately, warning that Taiz is approaching a severe humanitarian disaster.

The siege has intensified since the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha last month. This strategic location is approximately 130 kilometers from Taiz and is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. As the rebels expanded their control over surrounding roads, residents lost access to nearby wells. Truckers making the dangerous journey into the city have tripled their rates in some cases. The local water utility and desalination plants are operating well below capacity due to dwindling fuel supplies.

Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 displaced people since August, according to United Nations migration experts. This group represents roughly half of the total displaced population in Yemen during that period. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, stated that some displaced families live in makeshift shelters and subsist on one meal a day. Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE reported that cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled. Many families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. Flour and rice prices are about 50 percent higher than they were in the summer.

Residents are facing daily hardships in their daily routines. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is sheltering in the ruins of a building with nine relatives, said his income from hauling construction material has become unstable. He said, "We heavily rely on assistance and donations from people to get food." Al-Shahid closed her salon as customers prioritized food and water expenses. Her ten-year-old daughter and five-year-old son now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.

The government maintains control of the city center, but the siege complicates resupply efforts for forces facing resistance in the surrounding hills. Analysts indicate that controlling Taiz is a strategic objective for the Houthis if they aim to advance south. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group described any attempt to seize parts of the city as likely to 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 in recent days. Houthi missiles struck a residential area earlier this week, killing two teenage girls. Abdel Gaber reported hearing explosions daily from fighting located about five kilometers away. He said his family will not return to their mountain village for safety reasons. Al-Shahid stated that she cannot afford to leave her home. "Staying in our home is inevitable," she said, "whether it be a matter of life or death."