Houthi Siege of Taiz Displaces Over 281,000 Yemenis
Houthi forces have displaced over 281,000 people in Yemen since August, encircling Taiz and cutting off critical water and humanitarian aid routes.
More than 281,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since early August, with the majority sheltering in the Taiz governorate. The United Nations reports that three-quarters of these displaced individuals lack adequate shelter, clean water, and sanitation, leaving 230,000 people in need of emergency water support.
Since early October, Houthi forces have encircled Taiz and cut off the road to Aden, forcing aid convoys onto narrow mountain tracks and slowing the delivery of essential supplies. Houthi forces also seized control of wells in Wadi Al-Dhubab, depriving residents of approximately 3 million liters of water. The United Nations Population Fund warned that women and girls in overcrowded camps face increased risks of trafficking, forced marriage, and sexual violence.
Government figures released by Social Affairs and Labor Minister Mukhtar Omar Saleh Al-Yafei indicate that between August 10 and October 15, military escalation and the siege resulted in 79 civilian deaths and 206 injuries. Infrastructure damage is extensive, with Governor Nabil Shamsan reporting the destruction of approximately 676 homes and threats to 30 health centers. In Houthi-controlled districts, 120 health facilities have ceased operations, impacting care for 23,000 pregnant women and 186,000 children under five.
