Yemenis struggle as prices double in besieged Taiz

Prices of essential goods have doubled in Taiz, a city under siege by Houthi rebels, as the UN warns of the dire consequences. Fuel scarcity is endangering lives in hospitals, while families in Taiz grapple with water shortages, according to Laurent Bukera, a UN humanitarian official in Yemen. The Yemeni government accused the Houthis of targeting an ambulance, killing an 18-year-old girl.

The government has intensified counter-attacks, with Yemeni forces launching nearly 750 operations against the Houthis. An offensive by the Iranian-backed group has reignited the civil war in Yemen, creating a new front in the broader Middle East conflict. The Houthis have responded with attacks on Saudi Arabia, causing hundreds of casualties and disrupting flights.

A Saudi-led coalition reported destroying a drone over Riyadh. Col Al Nuzaili, an Army spokesman, stated that Yemeni government forces are intensifying their pressure on Taiz, a critical city in the western Yemen struggle. The UN official emphasized the health system's collapse in Taiz due to road closures, security issues, and the lack of energy supplies, which are endangering hundreds of patients.

The shortage of medical oxygen is particularly concerning for patients requiring oxygen support. Bukera called for safe passages to allow essential supplies to enter the city, as road closures and a lack of security prevent food and fuel from reaching the population. The UN official's warning followed a Houthi attack on a military training camp in Shabwa province, killing at least 73 people and injuring over 200, with 14 still missing.