Various armed groups, primarily Houthi forces and fragmented local militias, manage the checkpoints encircling Taiz. These actors treat entry points as private revenue streams. They impose arbitrary fees on trucks carrying essential medicines and surgical equipment, often demanding payments in hard currency.
The money avoids the public treasury. It pays the salaries of frontline fighters and funds the purchase of ammunition. This creates a self-sustaining loop. The more the blockade persists, the more revenue these commanders collect. This cash keeps their fighters loyal and their positions secure against rivals.
Patients bear the ultimate cost. Hospitals frequently run out of insulin or dialysis kits because suppliers cannot absorb the illegal levies. This economic squeeze keeps the conflict alive by empowering the middlemen who profit from scarcity. In Taiz, the blockade is not just a military strategy; it is a business model that rewards those who restrict access to healthcare.
