Siege fuels disease fears in Yemen’s Taiz

Health officials warn that falling numbers of recorded infections may conceal a worsening disease crisis in Yemen’s besieged Taiz. Wearing the traditional clothing of women from Jabal Sabir, the mountain that overlooks the city of Taiz and is one of its most famous symbols, she appeared in a short video widely circulated on social media on November 10.

In her arms was the body of an infant from her family, identified as Gaza Ali Abdulmughni al-Shaqab, who had fallen ill and died after her family was unable to get her emergency medical care. The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms said the vehicle carrying the baby to the hospital was attacked by Houthi forces as it travelled through mountain roads.

“She died, and we couldn’t get her emergency treatment because of the siege,” the woman said, referring to the ongoing Houthi siege of al-Shaqab, which lies on a front line between the rebel group and Yemeni government forces.