Yemeni City of Taiz Faces Supply Collapse as Fuel Costs Hit 120,000 Riyals

The daily routine in Taiz, Yemen, has fractured over the past three weeks.

Two major land routes into the city were cut off in early October, isolating a population of approximately one million people. The Houthi forces took control of al-Turbah on October 4, severing the primary road to Aden. On October 3, government loyalists closed the eastern al-Houban crossing. These actions blocked the flow of goods, fuel, and water into the third-largest city in the country.

The immediate result is a sharp rise in the cost of basic necessities. Fuel stations in the city have remained closed since October 5. Current market prices show that 20 liters of petrol now cost 120,000 Yemeni riyals, a sum of roughly 77 US dollars. This represents a fourfold increase from last year, when the same amount cost 30,000 riyals. Diesel prices have risen from 46,000 riyals to 90,000 riyals. Cooking gas cylinders have jumped from 11,400 riyals to 40,000 riyals. Bus fares have increased by 150 percent, moving from 200 riyals to 500 riyals.

The shortage of diesel has created a secondary crisis in water access. Diesel powers the pumps that draw water from the Al-Dhabab basin. Local authorities report that access restrictions prevent tankers from reaching this key source. The United Nations stated on October 20 that water production in Taiz has fallen by half. Tanker deliveries now cost about three times as much as they did before the fighting escalated.

Residents are adapting to the scarcity by reducing consumption. Yousef Farhan, a 39-year-old father of four, said his family now eats little other than rice or beans. He previously earned 4,000 to 5,000 riyals a day selling cucumbers from a cart outside a school. When the school closed, that income vanished. The family, which has lived in the school building in the Wadi al-Qadi zone since being displaced by shelling, now cooks over firewood.

Sayyun Burhan, 40, described her family as living day to day. Her husband lost his job at a local store, and his poor health limits his ability to find new work. Despite the loss of income, the family must still pay rent, buy food, and purchase water and gas. Burhan keeps her children indoors due to safety concerns, noting that they have been deprived of schooling and play.

The healthcare system is also straining under the weight of the supply shortage. The World Health Organization warned on October 22 that 42 health facilities in Taiz are reporting severe deficits in fuel, oxygen, medicine, and medical supplies. Diesel is required to run hospital generators and power ambulances.

Fatima Khaled, 55, has kidney failure and requires regular dialysis. She cannot afford the frequent trips from her village west of the city or a private room near the hospital. She sleeps on the floor of the dialysis hall at Al-Jumhuri General Hospital. Khaled stated that she feels imprisoned in the hall, which serves as her only shelter.

The United Nations has warned that the combination of road closures and security issues is blocking vital supplies. Prices for available food and fuel have more than doubled since the siege began. The city continues to rely on limited stockpiles as the dual land routes remain closed.