Houthi fighting near Taiz leaves Yemen residents short of food and water
Fighting between Houthi forces and Yemeni government forces has intensified around Taiz, a city of about 1 million people. Aid groups say shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine are growing as thousands flee.
- Fighting around Taiz in southwest Yemen is four months old, DW reported.
- The IOM says about 134,000 people are displaced in Taiz governorate.
- The UN has described the encirclement of Taiz as a "medieval siege".
Fighting between the Houthi movement and Yemeni government forces has intensified around the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz, leaving residents short of food, water and medical supplies, DW reported. The clashes are four months old.
Taiz is Yemen's third-largest city, with a population of around 1 million. Government forces control it, but Houthi forces have largely blocked the delivery of goods. Yemeni authorities have warned civilians of sniper fire from surrounding hillsides.
According to the International Organization for Migration, fighting has displaced around 134,000 people in Taiz governorate. In an IOM statement dated November 1, 2026, the governorate accounts for almost half of more than 319,000 people displaced across western Yemen.
Human Rights Watch says the Houthis have blocked fuel, water and medical supplies needed by hospitals. Niku Jafarnia, its Yemen researcher, said: "The Houthis have blocked fuel, water and medical supplies, basically all things required for hospitals to function properly".
A resident told DW that prices have risen sharply and that there is almost no petrol, cooking gas or drinking water left in the city. Governor Nabil Shamsan said negotiations are underway to bring food, fuel and water back, with no timeline set.
The Norwegian Refugee Council says insecurity prevents it from reaching 7,000 people it supports with tents, blankets and educational activities. Alison Bottomley, its advocacy adviser in Yemen, said: "Fighting and insecurity around Taiz is making it unsafe for civilians to move freely and also for our staff to deliver aid".
Arab News reported that UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric likened the encirclement to a "medieval siege". Yemen's armed forces claim more than 1,200 strikes on Houthi targets and say 370 Houthi fighters have been neutralized.
Fighting reignited in late July and intensified in September as the Houthis seized territory. The WHO Health Cluster says at least 1,677 people had been killed and 7,395 injured as of October 25, 2026. Analyst Hisham Al-Omeisy said he fears the Houthis could use gains around Taiz to weaken the anti-Houthi camp rather than immediately attack Aden.
Why it matters
The fighting is part of the wider Gulf conflict picture that Pakistanis follow closely, and it affects the region where many Pakistani workers live.
