Angry protests erupt in Taiz over severe water crisis

TAIZ, July 06 (YPA) – Angry popular protests erupted on Sunday in front of the building of the local authority loyal to the Saudi-led coalition in the center of Taiz city in response to the escalating drinking water crisis plaguing the city.

In two separate demonstrations for men and women, protesters raised angry slogans condemning the absence of solutions from the pro-coalition government. They chanted, “Where is the water? Where is the water, you thieves of Taiz?” holding local authorities fully responsible for the continued deprivation of water for the city’s residents.

Participants in the demonstrations affirmed that Taiz is experiencing its worst water crisis in history, particularly concerning drinking water, where the price of a 10-liter gallon has reached one thousand Yemeni Riyals, making it unaffordable for families due to soaring prices and scarcity of resources.

During their protest, the demonstrators expressed their absolute rejection of Taiz’s crisis-ridden management by the General People’s Congress Party leader Nabil Shamsan, who was appointed as Taiz’s governor by the coalition.

Areas under the coalition’s control in Taiz are facing a severe water crisis, amid accusations against the UAE-backed commander “Tareq Saleh” and the Islah party leaders of orchestrating the crisis and preventing the establishment of a water project funded by the UAE for the city’s residents in the past.

It is worth noting that Taiz Water Corporation’s wells are located in areas controlled by the coalition-backed forces, which have failed to operate them under various pretexts, such as lack of fuel or the need for maintenance.

Taiz is currently facing a severe water crisis, especially in accessing potable water. Thousands of citizens are standing in long queues in front of charitable water projects, while women and children are fetching water from distances of up to five kilometers.

YPA