A/HRC/42/CRP.1 dire situation in Ta’izz, describing it as a virtually besieged city: “The city of Ta’izz has been under a virtual state of siege since the beginning of September 2015. Little, if any, commercial goods or humanitarian assistance have been able to enter the three city districts of al-Mudhafer, al-Qahirah and al-Saleh. Two-thirds of the population has left the city”520. The Group of Experts was informed by various sources that the rise in the cost of living and hike in prices due to the creation of the “enclave” as well as lack of access to basic services was one of the main reasons that prompted civilians to move out of the city.521 348. The first phase of the “siege” of Ta’izz lasted until March 2016. During this period, Houthi-Saleh controlled checkpoints were randomly closed. Some sources indicated times where certain checkpoints were opened for a few hours one or two days a week. In addition to the risks induced by the active fighting, people were stopped for hours, searched and many described to the Group of Experts the humiliation522 suffered by civilians while crossing. These included the confiscation of goods they were carrying, which prompted many to avoid carrying valuable items such as gas cylinders, and the limitations imposed on the quantities they could carry in, even in relation to vegetables and food items. Some were reportedly taxed.523 The passage of al-Dahi is cited by many as infamous for the cruel treatment carried out there. It was the main crossing point for civilians into and out of Ta’izz city, and people were forced to walk some distances to reach it, ranging from 400 meters to up to more than a kilometre at some points according to some. This made it a daunting task for those with disabilities and for the elderly. “My mother used to ask a boy from the neighbourhood to accompany her during the crossing so she could buy her food, because she could not otherwise manage the crossing.”524 People spoke to the Group of Experts of women being harassed and of bags of food items being torn or stomped on. The Group of Experts examined footage showing armed men chasing civilians at the checkpoint, randomly beating them and shooting in the air. Siege tactics reported included the use of snipers to shoot civilians at checkpoints. 525 One source told the Group of Experts that three shops close to the passage had been turned into administrative detention places, where “suspects” would be held and often transferred to al-Saleh prison. “It was the greatest source of humiliation for the city”, the same source said. 526 The Group of Experts also documented cases of arrests that took place near the checkpoints or while civilians were crossing. Houthi-Saleh fighters arrested young men specifically; in cases documented by the Group of Experts, civilians were accused of being “Da’eshi” or supporting the Resistance, and were arbitrarily detained and tortured while attempting to cross or in areas controlled by the Houthis.527 349. To avoid the frequently closed Houthi-Saleh checkpoints, civilians started relying on a mountainous road that circumvented the crossing, known as al-Talooq road, a steep road that could only be crossed by foot, with donkeys, or with four by four vehicles. It became the passage for medicine and various supplies into the city. It was also known as the “road of death” due to its natural difficulty and dangers. The road would be reportedly blocked for days at a time due to rains and landslides, and people carried on their backs food, oxygen tanks, and sometimes their sick and elderly. The inherent dangers of this road only contributed to the rise in prices, as they came “at a human cost”. The city of Ta’izz continued to suffer, including from the amassing of rubbish inside the city, as dumping sites, mainly located outside of the city, were inaccessible, contributing to increased health risks inside the city528. 520 Ibid. Confidential Sources on File. 522 Confidential Sources on File. 523 Confidential Sources on File. 524 Confidential Sources on File. 525 Confidential Sources on File. 526 Confidential Sources on File. 527 Confidential Sources on File. 528 Confidential Sources on File. 521 83