Taiz City Refuge for Displaced Yemenis

Fleeing Taiz City

Over 50,000 people have arrived in Taiz city in the past several weeks, according to local officials, as fighting rages around it.

Hana Bagash's Escape

Hana Bagash, a 40-year-old mother of four, fled Taiz city on October 2 after Ansarallah took control of Al-Turbah, her safe haven.

“On October 2, I coordinated with my sister in the town of Al-Turbah, who rented a house for us. I took my children and fled the city”

Al-Turbah Under Siege

Ansarallah forces took control of Al-Turbah within two days, followed by Saudi-led airstrikes that terrified residents.

“We felt as if we were in the middle of a battle”

Fleeing Again

Hana Bagash fled to Al-Nagesha, her ancestral village, four kilometers from Al-Turbah, but fighting reached there by October 27.

Taiz City's Safety

Taiz city remains relatively safe from direct combat despite shortages of fuel, food, water, and medicine.

“Taiz city is still safer”

Haitham Shamsan's View

Haitham Shamsan, a procurement officer in Taiz, believes staying in the city is safer than fleeing to other areas in the governorate.

“If we flee to another area in Taiz governorate, we might face an even worse situation with airstrikes and shifting battlefronts”

Displacement Crisis

Ali Qaed, an official government body manager, confirmed over 50,000 people have reached Taiz city in the last two months.

“At the same time, more than 50,000 people have reached the city during the last two months because they consider it safer than their home areas”

Mahyoub Ahmed's Story

Mahyoub Ahmed, a farmer from Jabal Habashi, fled his village after four days trapped in conflict, now living in a basement in Taiz city.

“Life here isn’t easy because we lack basic services, but it is safe”

Housing Shortages

Most displaced families in Taiz city live in unfinished buildings or with relatives due to skyrocketing housing costs.

“Sometimes we see one family hosting five families of relatives who arrived in the city, and all of them are vulnerable”

Ongoing Threats

Residents face constant fear of Saudi-led airstrikes and shifting battlefronts as Ansarallah controls vast areas of Taiz governorate.

“We were lost for four days in the middle of the fighting”

Government Response

The government reports only a negligible number of people have left Taiz city, with most displaced to Aden and Lahj governorates.

“Only a negligible few have left the city, and most of them displaced to Aden and Lahj governorates”

Fighting Continues

Ansarallah and Saudi-backed government forces continue fighting along the border of Lahj and Taiz governorates.

“The Houthis launched an advance towards Lahj last week to push the frontline further into government territory”