Labelled the ‘worst humanitarian crisis in the world’ by the EU and characterised by the UN as ‘entirely man-made’, the ongoing crisis in Yemen continues to drag on unabated. The UN has warned that Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the Arab world prior to the conflict, is on the brink of widespread famine, which could lead to further massive loss of life. 
The conflict has been variously portrayed as a civil war, a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and a supposedly ancient schism between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims. The diversity and sheer number of actors involved in the conflict, however, demonstrates that these characterisations are far too simplistic and that the conflict defies neat categorisation. 
As such, this week’s Majlis will attempt to unpack and provide an up-to-date account of the conflict, both from a humanitarian and a political perspective. Joining us for this session is Dr Tristan Dunning who will help us explore some of the underlying causes of the conflict and the actions of the plethora of actors involved, notably the internationally-recognised Hadi government, the Houthi movement, the Saudi-led coalition, Iran, al-Qa’ida, and the West. The Majlis will also discuss Australia’s position vis-à-vis the conflict.

Dr Tristan Dunning is lecturer at the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast, with an interest in Middle Eastern politics and society. He recently completed a brief stint as a Senior Researcher providing advice about the Middle East in the Australian Parliamentary Library in Parliament House, Canberra. 
Tristan has published articles in Terrorism and Political Violence, Small Wars and Insurgencies, and Critical Studies in Terrorism. He has also worked as a visiting lecturer at the University of Duhok in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2013-14 and an-Najah National University in Palestine in 2010. He has lived, worked and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East including Palestine, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Israel and the UAE.