SANAA — Residents in the Yemeni capital Sanaa are stocking up on rare food and fuel supplies after the government in exile decided to divert aid ships from the Houthi rebel-held north to loyalist areas farther south.

Sources in Yemen’s government confirmed the move, though there has been no official announcement, and Yemen’s exiled information minister said on Tuesday that commercial flights would be diverted from the capital to the southern port of Aden.

The decisions come as southern fighters backed by weapons and air strikes by neighboring Gulf states have made rapid gains on southern battlefields against the Iran-allied Houthis.

A Saudi-led alliance has been bombing Yemen’s dominant group since March in support of the country’s exiled leadership, which now seeks to reestablish its base from Aden.

“Gas stations have closed, and there are fears that the coalition will impose a siege on Sanaa and the cities of the north. We’re afraid,” said Ali Saleh, who was searching for ways to fill up his taxi.

Residents in the capital scrambled to stock up on food from stores as the black market price for 20 liters of petrol jumped to 60 dollars in recent days compared to an official price of 15 dollars.

The Arab coalition has enforced a near-blockade on the country to prevent arms shipments.