The Huthi de facto authorities must immediately open vital roads in and around Ta’iz city, as fighting intensifies between the Huthis and government forces and moves closer to densely populated areas of the city, Amnesty International said today.
The Huthis have tightened their control around Ta’iz city after they cut off the main road connecting Ta’iz to Aden in October, pushing the city to the brink of a severe humanitarian disaster. They have blocked humanitarian aid, putting access to food, water, and healthcare for hundreds of thousands at grave risk as per UN agencies.
“The residents of Ta’iz, Yemen’s third largest city, have endured years of hardship due to the conflict, while hosting the country’s largest number of internally displaced people. At various points since 2015, Huthi forces have surrounded the city,
blocking access
to major roads connecting it
to other towns and cities and forcing civilians to use dangerous and poorly maintained mountained roads,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa.
“Once again, civilians in Ta’iz find themselves trapped and facing severe shortages of essential goods, including food, water, and medicine. Under international law, the Huthis have an obligation to ensure the flow of aid and essential goods for civilians in need isn’t impeded in any way, and that civilians wishing to leave Ta’iz can do so freely and safely.”
UN agencies have warned that critical medical facilities are running dangerously low on fuel and oxygen; wheat and flour supplies could run out in less than three weeks; food prices have risen about 50%; and cooking gas has become largely unavailable.
Between 1 August and 19 October, according to the UN Human Rights Office, 32 civilians have been killed across Taiz governorate, including 14 children and nine women, while 115 civilians were injured, among them 36 children and 34 women.
International humanitarian law requires partie
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