Public Transport Fares Increase in Taiz Amid Gas Shortages & Rising Prices

Local residents in the Yemeni  city of Taiz reported on Tuesday that public transport bus operators have raised passenger fares by 50% amidst an ongoing gas crisis and soaring fuel prices.

Residents told Yemen Monitor that passenger fares jumped from 200 riyals (85 cents) to 300 riyals (US$1.27). The sudden increase triggered widespread discontent among citizens, who viewed the hike as an added burden on their shoulders in light of deteriorating living conditions and the rising cost of living.

In response, bus operators justified the fare hike by pointing to the persistent scarcity and inflated prices of gas, noting that these factors significantly increased the operational costs of public transport vehicles.

The city of Taiz periodically experiences shortages in the supply of both cooking gas and vehicle fuel, with growing complaints from residents about the impact of rising fuel prices on transportation fares and the cost of services.

This rise in transport costs comes at a time when the city’s residents are struggling with severe economic and living conditions, driven by the continuous price increases of basic goods and services.