The European Union calls on the Houthis to lift the siege on the city of Taiz

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The European Union called on the Houthi militia to immediately lift the siege on the Yemeni city of Taiz, and to bring food, water, medicine and fuel into it, in a position that coincided with movements by the government and local authority to mobilize international support and facilitate the arrival of basic supplies that it says are necessary for the population and service facilities.

The Union mission to Yemen said in a statement published on its account on the X platform: Thursday, that Ambassador Patrick Simonet discussed the situation in Taiz with Governor Nabil Shamsan, stressed the support of the European Union and reviewed the ongoing humanitarian interventions by the European Union.

7 civilians killed and 377 projectiles fired within 48 hours.. The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documents Houthi violations in Taiz https://t.co/6Q98g2awmc

Simonet called on the Houthis to immediately end the siege imposed on the city and allow water, food, medicine and fuel to enter it.

The European mission said in a statement yesterday evening, Wednesday: “We are following with great concern the situation in Taiz, and we call on the Houthis to lift their siege imposed on the city and allow food, water, medicine and fuel to enter it.”

The statement stressed the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and enable partners to provide basic assistance.

In this context, the Yemeni government called on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to take urgent and effective steps to lift the stifling siege imposed by the terrorist Houthi militias on the city of Taiz.

The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, in letters sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Security Council and international organizations, that the recent escalation by the Houthis and the tightening of the screws on Taiz and its villages affects more than four million people who are besieged and displaced, calling for direct international pressure to open humanitarian outlets and secure the flow of food, fuel and drinking water.

The letter called for direct international pressure to immediately lift the siege, open all Taiz ports to civilians and supply chains, ensure sustainable access to food, fuel and drinking water, without obstacles, and take a clear international position on any practices aimed at depriving the civilian population of the necessities of life or using their humanitarian needs as a means of pressure or imposing a fait accompli.

It also called for strengthening monitoring, documentation, and accountability mechanisms to preserve evidence of violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure that they do not escape punishment.

The local authority in Taiz Governorate also warned of the worsening humanitarian conditions following the continued siege imposed on the city by the Houthi group, calling on the United Nations, the international community, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action.

Governor Nabil Shamsan said, during a press conference held on Wednesday, to discuss the humanitarian and human rights repercussions of the siege, that thousands of families face difficulties in obtaining food, medicine, water and fuel, warning of the repercussions of continued bombing on residential neighborhoods and the disruption of basic services.

He added that preventing waste from being transported to the designated landfill exacerbated the environmental and health risks, in conjunction with the continued bombing, which caused civilian casualties, including women and children, according to the local authority.

Shamsan called for urgent international action to ensure that humanitarian supplies and basic services reach the population without obstacles, praising the role of journalists and activists in reporting the humanitarian situation and documenting violations.