Houthi siege of Taiz severs city as fuel and food prices soar

Houthi forces have fully besieged Yemen's third-largest city, Taiz, after closure of all land routes in early October cut off roughly one million residents.

• Taiz lost both land routes in early October when Houthis took al-Turbah and government-aligned forces closed the al-Houban crossing.
• The UN warned on October 20 that road closures and insecurity were blocking vital supplies to the city.
• Rashad al-Alimi said about 1.5 million people face the Houthi siege and urged the international community to open crossings and allow aid.
• Fuel stations have been closed since October 5, and petrol prices have quadrupled to about $77 for 20 litres.