Taiz hospitals near collapse as Houthis tighten siege: Yemen government

Medical services in Taiz risk shutting down as fuel, medicines, and supplies run alarmingly low under Houthi blockade, according to Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population.

The ministry warned of an “imminent health and humanitarian catastrophe” in the besieged city of Taiz, in the country’s southwest, as the Houthis continue their siege and “obstruct essential supplies”.

Medicines, intravenous fluids, medical supplies and fuel at the city’s health facilities were “nearing depletion”, the ministry said, which could force emergency care, surgery, intensive care, dialysis and neonatal services to stop.

Fuel shortages also threaten electricity generators, ambulances and the cold chains that keep medicines and vaccines usable, which could cause “severe complications and preventable deaths”.

The Houthis, an armed group backed by Iran and also known as Ansar Allah, have controlled the country’s north and northeast since seizing Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, by force in 2014.

The renewed siege took shape in early October, after the Houthis launched an offensive along the Red Sea coast of the Taiz governorate in September, capturing the port city of Mocha, and by October 4 had taken the town of At Turbah, cutting the last main road between Taiz city and other government-held areas.