Residents of Taiz are once again living in fear as fighting has increased in recent days around this major city in southwestern Yemen. The conflict has disrupted key road networks, raising concerns about shortages of food, fuel, and other essential goods. The situation has worsened after Houthi forces took control of areas along the main road connecting Taiz to Aden, a vital supply route for the city. This disruption has complicated the delivery of goods that hundreds of thousands of residents depend on. In Taiz's markets, the effects of this tension are already visible, with some shops closing and others being rushed by residents trying to buy essentials like flour, rice, and oil out of fear that the situation may get worse. For many residents, economic hardship has already made daily life extremely difficult. "The market is empty; we don't have the means to buy anything. Prices are rising and we can't meet our daily needs. The situation is getting worse every day; who will have pity on us?" said Essam Mohammed, a resident of Taiz. In addition to food shortages, there are growing concerns about fuel and gas. In several neighborhoods, long lines have formed at gas stations, some of which have stopped operating due to a lack of supplies. The fuel shortage is reducing vehicle traffic and forcing many residents to travel on foot. In response to rising concerns, local authorities are working to prevent panic that could lead to the rapid depletion of available resources. "What has happened in Taiz over the past two days has caused confusion, anxiety, and panic among citizens. I call on residents to buy only what they need to ensure an even distribution of essential goods and to avoid a massive shortage," said Abdulrahman Al-Qulai'ah, director general of the delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the Taiz governorate. Despite these appeals for calm, residents remain deeply worried. Taiz has already endured years of siege, road closures, and isolation during the ongoing Yemeni conflict. This history makes the population especially sensitive to any new disruption of supply routes. If the fighting continues and the main roads remain blocked, fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis could quickly become reality. For the residents of Taiz, the issue now goes beyond the military conflict: it is about preserving access to essential goods in a city already deeply weakened by more than a decade of war.