The government of Yemen has issued an urgent alert that hospitals in the city of Taiz are approaching a critical point of failure. According to officials, the Houthi militia has deepened its siege of the city, restricting the flow of essential supplies, electricity, and medical personnel needed to keep health services operational.
Health authorities in Taiz report severe shortages of medicines, surgical equipment, and basic consumables. The limited power supply, which relies on intermittent generators, is insufficient to sustain intensive care units, forcing staff to prioritize only the most urgent cases. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing fighting that hampers the delivery of aid convoys and blocks access routes used by humanitarian organizations.
The Yemeni government attributes the deteriorating conditions to the Houthi's tightening control over surrounding roads and checkpoints, which it says deliberately prevents the transport of humanitarian assistance. Officials claim that the siege has also led to the displacement of medical staff, many of whom have fled due to security concerns or lack of remuneration.
International agencies have previously highlighted the vulnerability of Yemen's health system, which has been strained for years by conflict, economic collapse, and disease outbreaks. The latest warning from the government underscores the risk of a large‑scale health crisis in Taiz, where the civilian population already faces food insecurity and limited access to clean water.
Humanitarian groups operating in the region have called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of safe corridors to allow the delivery of medical supplies and the evacuation of patients. They stress that without swift intervention, the collapse of Taiz's hospitals could lead to a surge in preventable deaths and further destabilize an already fragile humanitarian situation.
The Yemeni government has appealed to the United Nations and regional actors to pressure the Houthi movement to lift restrictions and facilitate the flow of aid. It warned that continued obstruction could constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, given the essential role of health services in protecting civilian lives.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/11/taiz-hospitals-near-collapse-as-houthis-tighten-siege-yemen-government?traffic_source=rss.