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Oct - 25 - 2026 Download The Version
The Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) has warned of continued economic and humanitarian deterioration in Taiz city amid the ongoing siege and repeated closures of supply routes. The SEMC stressed that the relative improvement in the availability of some essential commodities does not represent a sustainable easing of the crisis, as hardship continues to worsen for the poorest households, patients, and displaced people, while risks to commercial activity, food security, water supplies, and healthcare services continue to grow. In its third briefing on the economic and humanitarian situation in Taiz, covering the period from October 10 to 21, 2026, the SEMC explained that limited shipments of wheat and flour, alongside traders’ existing stocks, had helped bring some essential commodities back to local markets. However, repeated closures of the city’s only supply route threaten to deplete stocks and push prices back up. The SEMC noted that Al-Dhubab Road remains the only land route through which supplies can enter the city. It opens for only a few hours on an almost daily basis, with repeated closures disrupting the movement of trucks and residents. The SEMC said this pattern of intermittent openings and closures undermines the regular flow of goods and increases transportation costs and supply risks, despite the temporary improvement in market availability. The briefing found that the price of a 50-kilogram bag of white flour fell from YER 60,000 at some shops on October 12 to around YER 50,000 at most monitored shops by October 17, compared with YER 38,000 before the latest military escalation. Black-market petrol prices also fell from around YER 90,000 per 20 liters on October 12 to YER 60,000 on October 17 but remained nearly twice their pre-escalation level. Meanwhile, the domestic gas crisis remained acute, with a cylinder selling for between YER 25,000 and YER 40,000. The first gas tanker to reach the city since the beginning of the month sold out on the day of its arrival, amid strong public demand and an inadequate, irregular supply. The SEMC quoted Abdulrahman Al-Qulai'ah, Director of the Industry and Trade Office in Taiz, as warning that the improvement in supplies was “very temporary.” He noted that repeated closures of the supply route every day or two were forcing traders to reduce the quantities they supplied, postpone shipments, withdraw from commercial activities, or relocate to other areas. The SEMC emphasized that the economic consequences of the siege now extend beyond rising prices and commodity shortages to undermining traders’ confidence and weakening economic activity itself. The risk of road closures increases supply costs, reduces shipment sizes and frequency, and pushes prices higher, placing an additional burden on low-income households, daily-wage workers, and displaced people, many of whom have lost their sources of income. On the humanitarian front, the briefing highlighted a widening gap in access to food assistance. On October 14, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners announced that they could no longer reach more than 600,000 people in Taiz who depend on humanitarian assistance, including over 200,000 women and children. The WFP warned that major cuts to assistance could take effect in November unless additional funding becomes available. The briefing also highlighted growing displacement risks and difficulties accessing displacement sites amid continued armed clashes and deteriorating living conditions. According to data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on October 13, a total of 217,303 people, representing 36,216 households, had been recorded as displaced since the escalation began. Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that more than 250,000 people had been displaced across Yemen between August 1 and October 17. The figures are not directly comparable because the two agencies use different reporting periods and methodologies. In the water and healthcare sectors, the SEMC warned that shortages of fuel and essential supplies were threatening basic services. It cited allegations by the local authorities that the Houthi group had prevented drinking-water tankers from entering the city from the Al-Dhubab wells. The SEMC also relayed warnings from the Health Office that critically low stocks of medicines, medical solutions, and fuel threatened the lives of 1,110 patients with kidney failure and 192 patients in intensive care. The SEMC called for urgent measures to ensure the continued flow of essential goods and services into the city. These include establishing fixed, publicly announced crossing hours along Al-Dhubab Road; ensuring the unimpeded passage of trucks, water tankers, patients, and civilians; providing fuel to operate water pumps and hospitals; and securing medicines and medical solutions for patients most at risk. The SEMC also stressed the importance of providing traders with guarantees and facilities to reduce supply risks and encourage continued commercial activity, alongside the regular publication of commodity stock data. It warned that continued intermittent closures could deplete available supplies, trigger renewed price increases and further erode the city’s commercial and investment base. The SEMC expects the current instability to persist over the next two to four weeks, given the lack of clear indications of a settlement that would ensure regular road access or establish safe humanitarian and commercial corridors. It called for urgent action to prevent further deterioration in the living and humanitarian conditions of Taiz residents.
The Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) has warned of continued economic and humanitarian deterioration in Taiz city amid the ongoing siege and repeated closures of supply routes. The SEMC stressed that the relative improvement in the availability of some essential commodities does not represent a sustainable easing of the crisis, as hardship continues to worsen for the poorest households, patients, and displaced people, while risks to commercial activity, food security, water supplies, and healthcare services continue to grow.
In its third briefing on the economic and humanitarian situation in Taiz, covering the period from October 10 to 21, 2026, the SEMC explained that limited shipments of wheat and flour, alongside traders’ existing stocks, had helped bring some essential commodities back to local markets. However, repeated closures of the city’s only supply route threaten to deplete stocks and push prices back up.
The SEMC noted that Al-Dhubab Road remains the only land route through which supplies can enter the city. It opens for only a few hours on an almost daily basis, with repeated closures disrupting the movement of trucks and residents. The SEMC said this pattern of intermittent openings and closures undermines the regular flow of goods and increases transportation costs and supply risks, despite the temporary improvement in market availability.
The briefing found that the price of a 50-kilogram bag of white flour fell from YER 60,000 at some shops on October 12 to around YER 50,000 at most monitored shops by October 17, compared with YER 38,000 before the latest military escalation. Black-market petrol prices also fell from around YER 90,000 per 20 liters on October 12 to YER 60,000 on October 17 but remained nearly twice their pre-escalation level.
Meanwhile, the domestic gas crisis remained acute, with a cylinder selling for between YER 25,000 and YER 40,000. The first gas tanker to reach the city since the beginning of the month sold out on the day of its arrival, amid strong public demand and an inadequate, irregular supply.
The SEMC quoted Abdulrahman Al-Qulai'ah, Director of the Industry and Trade Office in Taiz, as warning that the improvement in supplies was “very temporary.” He noted that repeated closures of the supply route every day or two were forcing traders to reduce the quantities they supplied, postpone shipments, withdraw from commercial activities, or relocate to other areas.
The SEMC emphasized that the economic consequences of the siege now extend beyond rising prices and commodity shortages to undermining traders’ confidence and weakening economic activity itself. The risk of road closures increases supply costs, reduces shipment sizes and frequency, and pushes prices higher, placing an additional burden on low-income households, daily-wage workers, and displaced people, many of whom have lost their sources of income.
On the humanitarian front, the briefing highlighted a widening gap in access to food assistance. On October 14, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners announced that they could no longer reach more than 600,000 people in Taiz who depend on humanitarian assistance, including over 200,000 women and children. The WFP warned that major cuts to assistance could take effect in November unless additional funding becomes available.
The briefing also highlighted growing displacement risks and difficulties accessing displacement sites amid continued armed clashes and deteriorating living conditions. According to data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on October 13, a total of 217,303 people, representing 36,216 households, had been recorded as displaced since the escalation began. Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that more than 250,000 people had been displaced across Yemen between August 1 and October 17. The figures are not directly comparable because the two agencies use different reporting periods and methodologies.
In the water and healthcare sectors, the SEMC warned that shortages of fuel and essential supplies were threatening basic services. It cited allegations by the local authorities that the Houthi group had prevented drinking-water tankers from entering the city from the Al-Dhubab wells. The SEMC also relayed warnings from the Health Office that critically low stocks of medicines, medical solutions, and fuel threatened the lives of 1,110 patients with kidney failure and 192 patients in intensive care.
The SEMC called for urgent measures to ensure the continued flow of essential goods and services into the city. These include establishing fixed, publicly announced crossing hours along Al-Dhubab Road; ensuring the unimpeded passage of trucks, water tankers, patients, and civilians; providing fuel to operate water pumps and hospitals; and securing medicines and medical solutions for patients most at risk.
The SEMC also stressed the importance of providing traders with guarantees and facilities to reduce supply risks and encourage continued commercial activity, alongside the regular publication of commodity stock data. It warned that continued intermittent closures could deplete available supplies, trigger renewed price increases and further erode the city’s commercial and investment base.
The SEMC expects the current instability to persist over the next two to four weeks, given the lack of clear indications of a settlement that would ensure regular road access or establish safe humanitarian and commercial corridors. It called for urgent action to prevent further deterioration in the living and humanitarian conditions of Taiz residents.