UN official: The situation is dangerous in Taiz
English - Sunday 24 July 2022 الساعة 10:23 am
Aden, NewsYemen:
A senior UN official described the situation in Taiz Governorate (southwest of Yemen) as dangerous, in conjunction with the Houthi terrorist militia continuing to besiege the city, and its refusal to implement the provisions of the existing armistice.
"The situation has generally improved" over the past three months, said Diego Zorrilla, the deputy UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, in an interview with AFP, citing a decrease in civilian casualties, an increase in the regular supply of fuel and the resumption of some commercial flights from Sanaa.
He added, "Since the roads are still closed, the improvement (in the security situation) does not live up to the residents' expectations," referring to one of the main elements of the truce that has not yet been implemented.
He pointed out that the numerous roadblocks and diversions imposed by the Houthi militia impede movement, quadrupling transportation costs, complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and depriving many Yemenis of access to basic services.
He stated that "the situation is particularly dangerous in Taiz," where "between 1.5 and two million people live.
About 80 percent of the population lives in the government-controlled part, but the Houthis control the highlands where there are water wells that feed the city, so the majority of the population has to buy water from “much more expensive” tanks, while “16,000 workers cannot Both sides see their families," the UN official said.
He pointed out what patients suffer under the Houthi siege, "Instead of making a 20-minute trip for dialysis, patients sometimes have to go to Aden" as a result of the Houthis keeping this governorate isolated from the rest of the country, and its residents must take very dangerous mountain roads to reach Aden. In eight or nine hours, compared to three hours in normal times.
Zorella stressed that the reopening of roads is a "major humanitarian, economic and development issue," noting that more than two-thirds of 30 million Yemenis, or 23 million people, need humanitarian assistance.
