Human rights organizations warn: “The Houthi siege is suffocating Taiz and threatening the lives of millions.”

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In a joint statement, 15 Yemeni and international human rights organizations warned of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Yemeni governorate of Taiz, as a result of the Houthi group closing roads and ports and obstructing the access of food, medicine and fuel, demanding the lifting of the siege and an end to indiscriminate attacks.

The organizations said in a joint statement on Sunday that the restrictions imposed on the movement of supplies, coinciding with the escalation of military operations that they said began on September 3, threaten the lives of millions of civilians and threaten the disruption of basic services, including health care and water supplies.

She added that the number of indigenous people in the concerned districts is about 4.35 million people, in addition to large numbers of displaced people, noting that the closure of roads led to the disruption of the transportation of goods, the depletion of food stocks, the rise in prices of basic commodities, and the decline in the ability of families to provide food, water, and treatment.

According to the statement, the governorate needs about 12.35 million liters of gasoline and 9.72 million liters of diesel per month to meet transportation needs and operate basic facilities, while operating and pumping water wells requires about 20,000 liters of diesel per month.

The organizations warned that the fuel shortage threatens to disrupt hospitals, health care centers, and water pumps, in addition to increasing transportation costs and the difficulty of delivering water in tanks, which raises the risk of the spread of diseases, especially in densely populated and displaced areas.

In a related context, the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population warned of the imminent running out of medicines, solutions, medical supplies and fuel in health facilities in the city of Taiz, and said that the continuation of the situation may lead to the cessation of emergency services, surgical operations, intensive care, dialysis and child nurseries.

The ministry added that the fuel shortage may disrupt electricity generators, ambulances, and cold chains for medicines and vaccines, exposing the sick and wounded, pregnant women, and newborns to direct dangers.

The Ministry stressed opening supply routes and ensuring safe passage for patients, ambulances and health teams, calling on the United Nations and health partners to urgently provide medicines, solutions, oxygen, medical supplies and fuel.

The organizations called on the Houthi group to immediately lift the siege, open roads for residents, commercial and relief trucks, and ambulances, and ensure the access of food, medicine, fuel, and water without arbitrary obstacles.

It also called on the Yemeni government, local authorities, the United Nations and donors to develop an emergency response plan, secure basic supplies and continue health and water services, while giving priority to the displaced, the poorest families and the groups most at risk.

It also called on international human rights mechanisms to document and investigate violations and ensure accountability.

The statement was signed by human rights organizations, including SAM Organization for Rights and Freedoms, the American Center for Justice, the Association of Mothers of Abductees, the Defense Foundation for Rights and Freedoms, the Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (Rasd), Rights Radar, the Mayon Organization for Human Rights, and the National Organization for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms (HOOD), in addition to other organizations.