Taiz Fuel Costs: Petrol Prices Hit 120,000 Riyals as Routes Close

Petrol costs in Taiz have risen to 120,000 Yemeni riyals for a 20-liter container, four times the price recorded last year.

The price jump follows the closure of all land routes into Yemen’s third-largest city. The Houthis captured the town of al-Turbah on October 4, severing the Taiz-Al-Turbah-Aden Road, which served as the primary supply line for goods. On October 3, government forces closed the eastern al-Houban crossing, citing attempted Houthi incursions. These moves isolated a population of approximately 1 million.

Fuel stations in Taiz have remained shut since October 5. Diesel prices for the same 20-liter volume increased from 46,000 riyals to 90,000 riyals. Cooking gas cylinders jumped from 11,400 riyals to 40,000 riyals. Bus fares rose 150 percent, moving from 200 riyals to 500 riyals per ride.

The cost of living has strained household budgets across the city. Yousef Farhan, 39, previously sold cucumbers from a cart near a school in the Wadi al-Qadi zone. He earned between 4,000 and 5,000 riyals daily, enough to buy a monthly gas cylinder and occasional variety in meals. Shelling closed the school, ending his trade. Farhan and his four children, ranging in age from five months to five years, now cook over firewood. His sister and her child also stay with him after their neighborhood came under fire.

Water delivery costs have roughly tripled since the fighting intensified, according to United Nations officials. Local authorities state that access restrictions prevent tankers from the Al-Dhabab basin, a key drinking water source, from entering the city. Diesel shortages have also disrupted water pumps, causing production to drop by half.

Fatima Khaled, 55, suffers from kidney failure. She cannot afford the long, expensive detours required for regular dialysis treatment or a room near Al-Jumhuri General Hospital. Khaled sleeps on the floor of the dialysis hall. On October 22, the World Health Organization reported that 42 health facilities in Taiz face severe shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicine, and medical supplies.

Sayyun Burhan, 40, manages her household finances day by day. Her husband lost his job at a local store, and his failing health limits other work options. The family must cover rent, food, water, and cooking gas while keeping their children inside due to safety concerns. Burhan notes that her children have missed school and lost time for play.

The United Nations warned on October 20 that road closures and security issues were blocking vital supplies. Prices for available food and fuel had more than doubled by that date. The closure of the four main routes out of the city, including the Taiz-Al-Turbah-Aden Road, has created a sustained blockade that local residents say forces them to live without looking ahead beyond the next day.