Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy on Thursday, 12 November 2026, issued a stark warning over a looming health and humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen's southwestern Taiz province, citing severe shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines, and medical supplies at hospitals. Fahmy's statement underscores the mounting toll of years of conflict on Yemen's already-decimated healthcare infrastructure.

Critical Shortages Threatening Hospitals

Fahmy expressed deep alarm over the deteriorating situation inside Taiz's medical facilities, warning that the shortages threaten to disrupt essential services — most critically, incubators for premature and newborn babies. He cautioned that continued obstruction of vital supplies could trigger a full-blown humanitarian disaster, putting children and other vulnerable patients at immediate risk.

'Depriving civilians of medical care and humanitarian assistance is unacceptable,' Fahmy said, stressing that 'saving lives should not be delayed or subjected to political or military considerations.'

Fahmy Holds Houthis Responsible

The Arab League chief directly held the Houthis responsible for the humanitarian consequences of the continued restrictions. He called for independent investigations and accountability, while urging humanitarian organisations and all relevant parties to take urgent action to secure hospital supplies and ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered delivery of aid. He also demanded immediate lifting of restrictions on humanitarian assistance to Taiz and safe passage for patients and medical personnel.

Deadly Airstrikes Near Sanaa Add to the Toll

The warnings came as fresh violence struck elsewhere in the country. At least 11 people were killed on Saturday in airstrikes on a village near Yemen's capital Sanaa, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, which blamed Saudi warplanes for the attacks. Women and children were reportedly among the dead.

The strikes destroyed five residential houses in Ash Sharyah village in Bani Hushaysh district, east of Sanaa. The head of the district's health office, according to al-Masirah, confirmed that rescue teams recovered 11 bodies from the rubble, with the death toll described as preliminary as search and recovery operations continued.

The channel also reported that Saudi warplanes launched two additional airstrikes targeting rescue workers and struck roads leading to the village, while military aircraft continued to fly over the area. Saudi authorities had not issued an independent statement on the strikes at the time of reporting.

A Crisis Years in the Making

Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition intervened against the Houthis following their takeover of the capital. The war has since produced one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the United Nations consistently warning of famine-level conditions and near-total collapse of public services. Taiz, long a flashpoint, has endured years of siege-like conditions that have severely restricted the movement of people and goods. This latest warning from the Arab League reflects a pattern of repeated calls that have thus far yielded little sustained relief.

What Happens Next

The Arab League has called on all parties and international humanitarian bodies to act without delay to prevent a collapse of medical services in Taiz. Whether these appeals translate into ground-level access remains uncertain — previous international calls for humanitarian corridors in the city have largely gone unheeded. With newborn lives reportedly hanging in the balance, the pressure on all parties to allow unimpeded aid access is intensifying.