Taiz water rationing hits four-day limit

In Taiz, Yemen, a family of four now survives on 10 liters of bottled water for four days. This ration, which previously covered a single day's needs for drinking and cooking, reflects the tightening grip of a siege that has isolated the country's third-largest city.

Humanitarian groups report that the needs of Taiz's more than 1 million residents are barely being met. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have advanced on the city as conflict with government forces escalates. Access to local wells is restricted, desalination plants lack fuel, and water trucks are largely blocked from entering.

Hadil al-Shahid, a hair salon owner, described the shift in her household. She and her two children, ages 10 and 5, stopped drinking coffee and tea daily to conserve water. "We stopped drinking coffee and tea, which we used to drink daily," she said. Bottled water prices have risen by as much as 75 percent compared to a few weeks ago, leading some households to buy supplies on credit.

The shortage extends beyond water. Grocery prices have climbed, and fuel scarcity is straining hospitals and sanitation services. Amnesty International urged the Houthis to open roads into the city immediately, warning that Taiz is near "the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster."

The crisis intensified after the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha in September. Mokha, located about 130 kilometers away, is vital for controlling Red Sea shipping. As rebels took land around Taiz, residents lost access to wells and outside deliveries. Truckers making the dangerous trip have tripled their rates, while local utilities operate below capacity due to low fuel.

Taiz province has absorbed an estimated 124,000 displaced people since August. Jens Laerke, a UN emergency aid spokesperson, said some families live in tents and eat one meal a day. Cooking gas prices have more than quadrupled, according to Hani Bafaqih of CARE. Families are burning wood, charcoal, or cardboard for heat. Flour and rice costs are up about 50 percent from the summer.

Ahmed Abdel Gaber, displaced with nine relatives, shelters in the ruins of a building. His income from hauling construction material is unstable. "We heavily rely on assistance and donations from people to get food," he said. Al-Shahid closed her salon as customers prioritized food and water. Her children now eat mostly rice, bread, and cheese.

The government holds the city center, but resupplying forces is difficult due to resistance in the surrounding hills. Analysts note that controlling Taiz is key for a Houthi push south. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group said any attempt to seize parts of the city would likely mean "a prolonged and costly battle." Three anonymous Houthi officials claimed the group controls about 80 percent of the surrounding countryside and several city neighborhoods, a figure The Associated Press could not verify.

Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has acknowledged the rebels' tightening control. Earlier this week, Houthi missiles hit a residential area, killing two teenage girls. Abdel Gaber hears explosions daily from fighting about 5 kilometers away. Al-Shahid said she cannot afford to leave. "Staying in our home is inevitable," she said, "whether it be a matter of life or death."