Taiz, Yemen’s largest urban center, is once again under siege as intense fighting between Houthi forces and government troops disrupts supply routes and civilian movement. The United Nations warns that the escalating conflict has pushed Yemen back into full-scale war, with displacement rising and humanitarian access severely limited. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg expressed alarm over the situation, noting infrastructure damage, road closures, and mounting civilian casualties in Taiz governorate. He urged Houthi forces to halt their offensive and ensure safe passage for civilians and aid workers.
The renewed violence has exacerbated an already dire food crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that wheat flour prices surged by 10% in parts of Taiz over two weeks, while traders estimate current wheat stocks will last only about two months. Fuel prices have also skyrocketed, with petrol and diesel costs rising by 11% and 21% respectively, according to Yemen’s Ministry of Economy and Industry. Across the country, 18.3 million people face acute food insecurity, including 2.2 million children under five who are acutely malnourished.
The humanitarian crisis is deepening as displacement and funding shortages strain resources. Over 200,000 people have been displaced since August, many fleeing to areas already struggling with food shortages and overburdened services. The WFP warns that fighting has blocked access to critical regions, preventing aid from reaching approximately 350,000 people. While the agency has assisted more than 70,000 displaced individuals in Taiz and Lahj, dwindling supplies and funding gaps threaten to widen the assistance gap further.
As the broader conflict escalates, the UN emphasizes the need for a credible political process to prevent Yemen’s war from becoming a permanent reality. Grundberg stressed that battlefield gains cannot replace negotiations, urging all parties to prioritize diplomatic solutions over military advances.