Houthi Advance Cuts Taiz Water Supply, Driving Costs Up 75 Percent

The water supply in Taiz, Yemen, has collapsed as Houthi forces tighten their siege on the city.

Aid groups report that the needs of more than one million residents are now barely being met. Access to local wells is restricted, and desalination plants are operating below capacity due to a lack of fuel. Water trucks, which previously served as a reliable backup, are largely blocked from entering the city.

The cost of bottled water has risen by as much as 75 percent in recent weeks. Hadil al-Shahid, a local salon owner, said her family used to consume 10 liters of bottled water daily for drinking and cooking. They now make that same volume last for about four days. Al-Shahid noted that some households are now purchasing water on credit to cover the difference.

The squeeze on water is part of a wider economic shock. Grocery prices have climbed, with flour and rice costing 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. Many families are now burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat and cooking.

The disruption extends to public health and sanitation. Fuel shortages have halted waste collection and hampered community kitchens. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for a UN emergency aid division, warned that disease, including cholera, becomes more likely as thirsty families use unprotected wells. He described the situation as a cycle where shortages feed into one another.

The population pressure has increased since August, when Taiz province absorbed an estimated 124,000 displaced people. Laerke said some of these families live in tents or makeshift shelters and survive on one meal a day. The influx strains the already limited resources available in the city.

The military advance began after Houthi forces captured the port city of Mokha last month. Mokha is located about 130 kilometers from Taiz and is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. As the rebels took control of more land and roads, residents lost access to nearby wells. Truckers who still make the dangerous trip into the city have in some cases tripled their rates.

The government still holds the center of Taiz, but the siege complicates resupplying its forces. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group said any attempt by the Houthis to seize parts of the city would likely mean 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.

Civilians are bearing the direct cost of the fighting. Houthi missiles hit a residential area earlier this week, killing two teenage girls. Ahmed Abdel Gaber, who is displaced with nine relatives, said he hears explosions daily from fighting about 5 kilometers away. His income from hauling construction material has become unstable, and his family relies heavily on donations for food.

Al-Shahid said she had to close her hair salon because customers prioritized food and water. Her children, aged 10 and 5, now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese. She said staying in their home is inevitable, whether it becomes a matter of life or death.