The local authorities in Taiz, southwestern Yemen, initiated the process of opening the "Osaifara-Al-Sittin" road on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. This route is designated for trucks and the transport of goods to the city, which has been under siege by the Houthi group, internationally listed as a terrorist organization, for nine years.

According to the official Yemeni News Agency (Saba), authorities have begun removing obstacles, debris, and trees, and paving the "Osaifara-Al-Sittin" road in preparation for receiving trucks and citizens coming from Al-Hoban, should the Houthis complete the opening of the road from their side.

The agency quoted First Deputy Governor Dr. Abdul Qawi Al-Makhlafi as saying that "the Kemp-Republican Palace road is insufficient and has caused congestion for those entering the governorate." He called on the Houthis to open this road to alleviate the accumulated suffering of the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the head of the government negotiating committee, Abdulkarim Shaiban, reported that the committee had rejected a Houthi attempt to open military roads other than the known main roads.

He reiterated that "the roads from the government side are fully open," stating, "We are ready to receive the needs of citizens in terms of food and medicine and facilitate their movement with ease."

He added, "The opening of the Kemp-Al-Hoban road is a smoke screen," emphasizing the need to open all roads in the governorate due to the population density and to alleviate congestion.

On Thursday, June 13th, the city of Taiz witnessed the reopening of the "Kemp-Palace Roundabout" road after nine years of closure by the Houthi group. This marked the first breach of the siege on the city.

Abdulkarim Shaiban, the head of the negotiating committee for opening roads in Taiz, announced the opening of the "Kemp-Palace Roundabout" road to citizens entering and leaving Taiz. He attributed the reopening to what he called "the resilience of the people of Taiz, their sacrifices, as well as the sacrifices of the heroes of the army and the popular resistance during the siege, leading to the breaking of this siege that was imposed on the city unjustly and aggressively."

The head of the negotiating committee expressed hope for the opening of other roads in the coming phase, commending the role of the political leadership represented by President Dr. Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, and his continued interest and follow-up on opening roads and ending the suffering.

He assured the readiness of security forces to facilitate the passage of citizens into and out of the city, noting that "the committee is awaiting the Houthis to fulfill their promises to open the road and lift the siege."

On Saturday, June 8th, the legitimate authorities in Taiz began removing debris and obstacles and paving the "Kemp" road east of the city, which has been under siege by the Houthi group for nine years.