Maria Imran 
Taiz aid access is now an urgent priority, according to UN agencies warning of a fast-developing emergency in Yemen’s Taiz City. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said the city has been cut off for 20 days, with fighting making it impossible for aid to enter or for people to leave.
Taiz Aid Access Becomes an Urgent Priority
The fighting between de facto Houthi forces and government troops began in early September, ending the relative calm brought by a 2022 truce. The WFP reports that more than 800,000 people in Taiz are cut off from assistance, including 600,000 who depend on aid and 200,000 women and children.
Water, Hunger and Displacement Pressures
Most residents rely on trucked water, and with roads closed and diesel scarce, water production has fallen by about half while prices have roughly tripled. UNICEF has screened more than 168,000 children in Taiz this year, finding over 52,000 acutely malnourished, including more than 11,500 with severe acute malnutrition.
UNICEF has pre-positioned nearly 8,000 cartons of therapeutic food, enough for about three months, though blocked routes still limit treatment. The IOM recorded about 258,679 displaced people between 7 June and 19 October, and 3,836 Yemenis had reached Djibouti by 17 October.
Diplomacy and Pakistan’s Steady Regional Role
Humanitarian access depends on political de-escalation, and the issue of Yemen featured in the recent Istanbul talks of the R4 and E3 foreign ministers. Pakistan has consistently backed dialogue and regional stability, and has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi security amid Houthi attacks, as outlined in How Will Pakistan Defend Saudi Arabia?
Safe corridors for fuel, food and medicine would be the quickest way to ease pressure on civilians. A durable settlement would need renewed talks, and Pakistan’s relationships with Gulf partners position it to support diplomatic efforts that keep humanitarian needs at the centre.
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