With European Support, UNESCO Leads Efforts to Revive Yemen’s Historic Cities

Yemen Monitor | Newsroom: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced the implementation of projects to rehabilitate and restore hundreds of historic and residential buildings across Yemen under a joint initiative with the European Union aimed at protecting cultural heritage and revitalizing local communities affected by years of conflict and crises. In a report published on Monday, November 2, and updated on Tuesday, UNESCO said the EU-funded projects had contributed to the restoration of 900 residential buildings, provided short-term employment opportunities for more than 11,000 young men and women, and trained over 450 architects and engineers in the technical skills required for restoration work. The organization said the initiative, launched in 2018, seeks to rehabilitate the cultural and urban fabric of several historic Yemeni cities, particularly Aden, Sanaa, Shibam and Zabid, with a focus on involving local communities and drawing on national expertise and skills in reconstruction efforts. UNESCO noted that more than 12 years of crisis had caused widespread deterioration of infrastructure and cultural heritage due to conflict, neglect and climate change. It added that all four of Yemen’s World Heritage Sites had been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In Hadramawt province, UNESCO and the European Union have supported the restoration of more than 100 historic houses in the city of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sustained significant damage from heavy rains and flooding. The projects have also included the rehabilitation of the historic Al-Qaiti Palace in the coastal city of Mukalla, which suffered structural damage, deterioration and looting during the years of war. The organization’s efforts have also extended to Aden, where restoration work has covered residential buildings in the Crater district, alongside support for cultural and artistic initiatives. Among these initiatives, UNESCO helped writer and illustrator Marwa Alawi publish a children’s book about a child with albinism who seeks to build friendships and gain social acceptance. UNESCO stressed that reconstruction efforts go beyond restoring buildings and historic landmarks to include reviving cultural life, creating employment opportunities and strengthening young people’s skills, helping local communities recover their sources of income and contribute to shaping their future. The organization added that it plans, in cooperation with its partners, to mobilize around $50 million to sustain recovery efforts in Yemen, focusing on supporting museums, combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property and strengthening creative industries, alongside assistance to the education and media sectors. The post With European Support, UNESCO Leads Efforts to Revive Yemen’s Historic Cities appeared first on Yemen Monitor.