Houthi Siege of Taiz Leaves Yemen City Without Oxygen, Food and Water, Governor Warns

The Houthi siege of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, is creating a humanitarian catastrophe, with oxygen, food and water supplies running low and massacres taking place, according to the city’s governor, Nabil Shamsan. In a briefing aimed at urging the international community to intervene, Shamsan said the Houthis are trying to send Taiz “back to the stone age.” The month-long siege has left rubbish piling up in the streets because landfill sites are full or inaccessible. The governor’s stark warning highlights the urgent need for humanitarian access and an end to the blockade, as the city’s residents face dire shortages of basic necessities. The international community’s response will be critical in preventing further suffering and loss of life in Taiz.