Taiz Residents Stretch Ten Liters of Water Over Four Days Amid Siege

Water prices in Taiz have jumped by 75 percent in recent weeks, leaving families in Yemen’s third-largest city to ration every drop. Hadil al-Shahid, a hair salon owner, told NPR that she and her two young children used to consume about 10 liters of bottled water daily. That same amount now lasts them roughly four days. She stopped buying coffee and tea to conserve the supply.

The crisis stems from a tightening siege by Iran-backed Houthi rebels who have escalated their conflict with government forces. Humanitarian groups say the needs of Taiz’s more than 1 million residents are barely being met. Access to local wells is restricted, desalination plants lack fuel, and water trucks are largely blocked from entering the city. Some households are now purchasing water on credit.

The pressure on Taiz intensified 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 took more land and roads around Taiz, residents lost access to nearby wells. Truckers making the dangerous trip into the city have in some cases tripled their rates. The city’s water utility and desalination plants operate well below capacity as fuel runs down.

The shortages have compounded other costs. Flour and rice cost about 50 percent more than they did in the summer. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, according to Hani Bafaqih of the aid group CARE. Some families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. The United Nations estimates that Taiz province has absorbed roughly 124,000 displaced people since August. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, said some displaced families live in makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day.

Amnesty International has urged the Houthis to open roads into the city immediately. The organization warned that Taiz is being pushed to the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster. Disease, including cholera, is becoming more likely as thirsty families use unprotected wells. Fuel shortages have also hampered community kitchens and shut down waste collection.

Civilians remain in danger from the fighting. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles hit a residential area in Taiz, killing two teenage girls. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives, said he hears explosions daily from fighting about 5 kilometers away. Al-Shahid said she cannot afford to leave her home. She stated that staying is inevitable, whether it be a matter of life or death.