Civilians in the besieged Yemeni city of Taiz face a struggle to survive and are running desperately short of food, medicine and water, Islamic Relief says. Every day the siege continues puts more civilian lives at risk, and Islamic Relief is calling for urgent humanitarian access to the city.
An estimated 1-1.5 million people live in Taiz, the third largest Yemeni city, including tens of thousands of displaced people who have fled their homes elsewhere. Supply routes in and out of the city have been largely blocked for the past month, with hunger and disease spreading rapidly as missiles rain down. The price of food has increased by more than 50% due to scarcity1, which many families who are already at emergency levels of hunger cannot afford. The price of trucked water supplies has tripled and cholera is spreading as water supplies become contaminated and sanitation systems break down.
Displaced families sheltering in the city are particularly poor and vulnerable, having been displaced multiple times as they fled the advancing front line of the conflict. The escalation of fighting across southern Yemen has now forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes in the past few months – most of whom lack adequate cash, food, shelter, water and sanitation.
Saaid Omar, Islamic Relief country director for Yemen, said:
“Taiz has become the epicentre of the crisis and every day the siege goes on risks more civilian deaths. Conditions in the city are getting worse every day. Food, medicine and clean water are running out, and cholera is spreading as waste piles up in the streets and people have no choice but to drink unsafe water. The price of basic supplies is rapidly rising out of reach for most people. We urge the international community to increase pressure on warring parties and get aid and essential supplies into Taiz.”
Islamic Relief is calling on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, in accordance with international law, and calling on international governments to step up funding and assistance for displaced families and local services.
Islamic Relief has been working in Yemen for over 28 years. In the current crisis, Islamic Relief is providing aid to vulnerable households across Aden, Lahj and Taiz governorates – where 88% of displaced families are sheltering – and working with other agencies and local health facilities to tackle the spread of cholera.
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