Five Years of Conflict: The State of Cultural Heritage in the Ancient City of Aleppo

Author(s)
David, J. C. et al.
Publication language
English
Pages
143pp
Date published
01 Dec 2018
Type
Research, reports and studies
Keywords
Conflict, violence & peace, Response and recovery, Urban
Countries
Syria
Organisations
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Link
http://www.unitar.org/unitar-and-unesco-release-landmark-report-state-cultural-h…

A landmark report providing the first detailed account of the devastating damage to the World Heritage Property of the Ancient City of Aleppo in the wake of years of armed conflict has been published by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and UNESCO.

The Ancient City of Aleppo is one of six Syrian World Heritage sites added to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger in 2013. Five Years of Conflict: The State of Cultural Heritage in the Ancient City of Aleppo draws on satellite imagery assessment of a total of 518 sites, including the Citadel and the City’s Great Mosque (Omayyad Mosque). The findings, which are the most accurate to date, show that more than 10 per cent of the historic buildings of Aleppo were destroyed and some buildings have been severely damaged.

However, the assessment also found that a few buildings remain undamaged and 51 per cent of all buildings assessed are moderately damaged. The publication is a crucial tool as it provides technical information to plan the restoration and rehabilitation of the city.