The human cost of Yemen's conflict

About this event

This event will discuss the human cost of Yemen’s ongoing conflict and the evolving political and regional dynamics shaping the country over the past decade.

It is almost 12 years since the Houthis stormed the capital Sanaa. Six months later, the coalition Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia and supported by Britain and the US started bombing Yemen with the aim of restoring the internationally recognised government (IRG) to get back to Sanaa. 12 years later, the IRG is in exile in Riyadh and the Houthis rule the majority of Yemen. Two governments and two currencies and Yemen is a no-go area for most Yemenis and certainly not a tourist destination anymore.  

Recently the situation has been exacerbated by tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, complicated also by Houthi relations with Iran. 

This Public Talk is co-hosted by The British Yemeni Society (BYS) and the SOAS Middle East Institute (SMEI).

A drinks reception will be held after the public talk, and you are welcome to join.

About the speaker

Farea Al-Muslimi

Farea Al-Muslimi is a research fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. His research focuses on Yemen and the wider Gulf region. Al-Muslimi is a regular commentator on regional affairs in international and regional media outlets. His writings and analysis on Yemen and the wider region have been published in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, The Independent, The Guardian, McClatchy, The National, Al-Hayyat, Assafir, Al-Monitor, Die Zeit, Liberations, Daraj, Bidayat, Just Security, The New Lines Magazine and many other publications.

Moderators

Chair: Taher Qassim

Taher Qassim (MBE) worked as a public health practitioner for Liverpool City Council until 2019. Before he settled in Liverpool in 1995, he worked in public health in different governorates of Yemen. He was a founder and leader of several local and national voluntary organisations, including the founder and chair of the Liverpool Arabic Centre, the founder, and chair of the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, the chair of the Merseyside Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Consortium, the Chair of the National Yemeni Community Coordinating Council UK, a co-founder of Liverpool Friends of Yemen for Peace, and a co-founder of the Yemen Mobile Health Project. 

Vice Chair: Frances Guy

Frances Guy first visited Yemen in 1986 when studying Arabic in Jordan.  She was UK Ambassador to Yemen from 2001–2004 and has maintained an active interest in events there since.  Frances was regional gender expert for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) regional office in the Arab states based in Jordan between 2017–2021 and is currently CEO of Scotland’s International Development Alliance, a network of organisations in Scotland working on sustainable development globally.

Image credit: British Yemeni Society