Yemeni government officials are coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian organisations on Tuesday to open a road through a main entrance to the city of Taiz. The initiative aims to deliver urgently needed relief supplies to the province, which is under siege by Houthi militias.
Nayef al-Bakri, Yemen’s Minister of Youth and Sports, said the operation is expected to take place in the coming days. He leads the Committee for Popular Mobilization and Government Support for the Armed Forces, directing these efforts with international partners to assist residents trapped in Taiz.
Bakri stated in a telephone interview that an upcoming relief convoy will carry fuel, medicines and essential supplies. Other convoys are scheduled for different provinces and areas affected by Houthi attacks.
The minister said what troubled the militias most was the resilience and loyalty demonstrated by the people of Taiz. He praised the city’s residents for their sacrifices against the siege and attacks, mentioning powerful images of women in Taiz carrying the body of a fallen son and purchasing weapons for "%he resistance.
The committee maintains constant contact with the provincial governor to explore routes for delivering available supplies. Discussions are also underway with the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding its potential role in facilitating aid delivery.
Hadramout province will send donations from its residents to Taiz. Letters have also been sent to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center requesting assistance, which already provides extensive programs across Yemeni provinces.
The conflict has displaced more than 200,000 families across Yemen. Bakri pointed to community solidarity in sheltering displaced families, and said the government and local authorities are fulfilling their responsibilities alongside community-led initiatives.
The committee, in cooperation with local authorities in Aden, recently carried out a relief campaign for residents of Al-Subaiha, Al-Mudaraba and Ras al-Ara. A relief convoy was dispatched, and preparations are underway for other convoys in Lahj, Al-Dhale, Shabwa and Al-Jawf provinces.
Relief operations will expand to western coastal districts including Mawza, Al-Waziya and Mokha. Assistance will also reach displaced people’s camps in Aden and Lahj in coordination with international organisations.
Bakri praised Saudi Arabia for its role in assisting Yemen. He commended the efforts of joint forces and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in delivering aid and easing the consequences of the war in Aden and other regions.
