Yemen conflict escalates as Houthis say seized new strategic area

Heavy gunfire rips through the Yemeni mountains of Jabal Habshi district. This footage shows the Houthis claiming another city, as the rebel forces continue their offensive and hope to capture the strategic city of Taiz. After cutting off a main road linking Taiz to Aden, government forces and the local population are now encircled. Humanitarian goods can no longer get into Taiz. As basic supplies slowly run out, prices have drastically increased for the thousands of people stuck in the city. What we want is for inspectors from the military police and the relevant authorities to monitor prices. The Houthis are fighting us on one side, and the traders are fighting us from the other. Some traders, meanwhile, say they are having to fight against stockpiling. Now things are fine and stocks are full, but some residents are hoarding goods themselves. Instead of buying one or two sacks, they want to take five or six. Humanitarian organizations have said that the situation in Taiz had significantly deteriorated in recent days. Current wheat and flour supplies could run out in less than three weeks. Petrol prices have tripled and cooking gas is largely unavailable to the population in Taiz city. Food prices have reportedly risen about 50 percent. The United Nations has said there is no military solution to the conflict and called for rapid distribution of humanitarian aid wherever needed.