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Arab News
22-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
How heritage defenders are rescuing Gaza's artifacts, preserving cultural identity
LONDON: It is one of the more extraordinary and unexpected images to have emerged from the chaos and destruction in Gaza. Two men, wearing high-visibility vests and stepping carefully through the rubble-strewn streets of Khan Younis, are carrying a priceless Roman-era pottery jar, supported between them on a folded carpet serving as a makeshift sling. The incongruous photograph tells a story of hope and determination — hope that Palestine has a future, and determination that, whatever tomorrow might bring, the heritage of an entire people will not be destroyed. The photograph was taken during the summer last year, when the men, members of the Heritage Guardians Team from the Khan Younis-based Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts, were taking part in the evacuation of thousands of artifacts from Al-Qarara Museum, which had been severely damaged in the fighting. Today, thanks to emergency funding supplied by ALIPH, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage, those artefacts are stored in a relatively safe and secret place, in the hope that one day they can be returned to a restored museum. The rescue of Palestine's past is just one of 550 projects in 54 countries that have been funded by ALIPH since 2017. The alliance was founded by France and the UAE at an international conference on heritage in danger, held in Abu Dhabi in December 2016 in the wake of widespread destruction of monuments, museums and heritage sites in conflict areas. Saudi Arabia was one of ALIPH's founding members and remains one of its biggest contributors. This month ALIPH announced additional funding of $16 million for 28 new projects supporting heritage in Gaza, Africa, Syria and Ukraine, bringing the total amount committed worldwide by the organization since 2017 to $116 million. Much of that money has been spent on major projects, such as ALIPH's response to the explosion in the port of Beirut in 2020. Since expanded to cover 37 individual projects — 26 of which have been completed — the commitment to Lebanon has reached $5.4 million. ALIPH's funding for Iraq, much of it in response to the destruction of multiple heritage sites by Daesh, has seen more than $31 million invested in 49 initiatives. It began in 2018 with the massive project to rehabilitate the Mosul Museum, in which ALIPH invested $15.8 million in collaboration with the Louvre, the Smithsonian Institution, and the World Monuments Fund, working with local partners and Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. ALIPH has also spent $3 million on 18 projects in Syria since 2019, working with 11 local operators to protect and restore archaeological sites, monuments, historic neighborhoods, museums and religious buildings. The new program that ALIPH wants to implement in the coming months includes the rehabilitation of the Palmyra museum and its artifacts, and the stabilization of damaged monuments at the ancient site, where the destruction inflicted there by Daesh in 2015 was one of the key events that led to the alliance's foundation. But it is the much smaller sums invested in timely, emergency interventions, such as several funded by ALIPH in Gaza, that often have a disproportionately significant impact. 'We have quite a large number of small projects,' said Elke Selter, ALIPH's director of programs. 'And a lot of these are acute emergencies, when you actually can't spend large amounts of money and just need to pay for an evacuation, for boxes to move objects, for tarpaulins to cover a hole in a roof, or for wooden panels to put in front of broken windows.' The cost of such interventions, which can make all the difference to the future of a heritage site, can be just a few thousand dollars. Larger, general applications for funding can be made through the regular calls for projects that are advertised on ALIPH's website — the current call, in partnership with the EU, is for projects in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and closes on July 31. But ALIPH is also open year-round to requests for emergency assistance grants, worth up to $75,000 each, for which applicants must submit a brief, precise proposal for interventions designed 'to halt or prevent irremediable heritage degradation that cannot wait until the next call for projects.' 'I believe that our emergency response is one of ALIPH's main strategic advantages,' said Selter. 'We do very important projects also, before and after emergencies, but there are many others doing that too. In terms of being actively present, and being able to provide funding within 48 hours, if needed, we're alone.' Part of the consideration of each emergency application is the risk posed to those on the ground. With only a couple of dozen staff at headquarters in Geneva, ALIPH is 'primarily a financial instrument, and so it's not ALIPH that puts on its boots and its helmets and goes on site,' said Selter. 'But we work with local operators and provide funding to people on the ground who ask for it, and who are, at that moment, doing whatever they can to save heritage that is clearly important to them. 'These people are going to do it either way, so we can either help them, or not. And if you know that you're one of the only ones that can help, I think there's a duty to do so.' ALIPH takes steps to ensure projects are as safe as possible. 'We try to do whatever we can in our power to make sure that the teams are as safe as they can possibly be, given the situations in which they work,' Selter added. 'In Gaza, for instance, we've put them in touch with UNMAS, the UN demining service, so that sites could first be checked. 'We stay in touch throughout a project, and in the particular case of Gaza we also make sure they understand that, for us, things like reporting deadlines are not essential. 'Of course, it's important that the administration at some point is in order, but we don't need them to risk their lives in order to send us a report within a deadline.' In Gaza last year, ALIPH partnered with the Khan Younis-based Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts and teams from Al-Qarara Museum and The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit in the West Bank to inventory and evacuate Al-Qarara's collection of more than 3,000 artefacts. • 550 Projects that have been funded by ALIPH since 2017. • $16m Additional funding for new projects unveiled by ALIPH this month. • 28 New projects to support heritage in Gaza, Africa, Syria and Ukraine. In April 2024, ALIPH also supported the urgent rescue from the rubble of surviving artifacts from the Rafah Museum, which, before it was almost completely destroyed by Israeli bombing, housed hundreds of objects related to Palestinian heritage, including a unique collection of traditional thobes. ALIPH is currently supporting emergency protection and stabilization measures for the historic Qasr Al-Basha in Gaza, being undertaken by the Palestinian Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation. Once the seat of Mamluk and Ottoman power, the palace became a museum in 2010, housing collections of the Palestinian Antiquities Department, before it was almost completely destroyed in 2023. Equally devastated was Al-Omari Mosque in the heart of Gaza's old city, which was built in 1149 and has been repeatedly damaged, most recently in December 2023. Almost all that remains intact is the building's minaret. ALIPH is supporting the Ramallah-based Palestinian NGO Riwaq, the Center for Architectural Conservation, which is carrying out emergency stabilization and documenting the destruction to support any future work. In February this year, ALIPH funded a damage assessment and stabilizing built heritage workshop in Cairo. Run by the Egyptian Foundation for Heritage Rescue and the Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Bethlehem, it has prepared 20 Palestinian heritage professionals to form teams and intervene in Gaza as soon as the situation allows. More than 60 heritage professionals from Gaza, the West Bank and Cairo also attended an ALIPH-funded online course on risk management and undertaking emergency cultural heritage protection measures. 'We were really surprised that we had more than 60 participants,' said project manager Gala-Alexa Amagat. 'Something we see in every conflict we work in is that people attach such importance to preserving the heritage that they have. 'A lot of the people in Gaza who attended actually walked very far every morning to get to a place where they could get a connection and connect to that training, which was completely beyond what we expected.' ALIPH relies on the generosity of donors, including nine member countries, public donors such as the EU, and private individuals and philanthropic foundations. Its next donor conference will be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of next year. 'Of course, the funding landscape is under serious pressure,' said Selter. 'But on the other hand, after eight years, ALIPH is becoming better known, which makes funding a bit easier. People know us now, and those who were hesitant at the beginning can see that we have delivered. 'We hope that our donors will remain committed and that they're happy with the results that we've delivered.' Ultimately, those results stand as a testament to the dedication of thousands of individuals around the world, from South America in the west to Indonesia in the east, many of whom are working in dangerous circumstances. 'The past belongs to all of us, and it is vital to protect our heritage to build a shared future,' said Valery Freland, ALIPH's executive director. 'We are much more than just a funder. But the real heroes are our partners on the ground, who often face great challenges, but are committed to protecting the world's heritage.'
Al Etihad
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE, Lebanese ministers underscore cultural heritage as 'a bridge to peace'
1 May 2025 16:08 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025 hosted a panel discussion titled 'Heritage for Peace: Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones', with the participation of Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, and Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Lebanon's Minister of session focused on the vital role of cultural heritage in promoting peace, and rebuilding societies affected by conflict. Both speakers emphasised that the preservation of heritage serves as a bridge for peace, and a pillar for identity preservation, in war-torn Kaabi highlighted UAE-led initiatives that demonstrate how safeguarding cultural sites can support post-conflict recovery. The UNESCO-led 'Revive the Spirit of Mosul' project in Iraq – supported by the UAE – is rebuilding historic landmarks such as Mosul's Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Tahera Church. More than 1,700 young Iraqis have been trained through this initiative to restore heritage sites and contribute to community reconstruction."Protecting both tangible and intangible culture is a top priority for the UAE," Al Kaabi said, underlining that the preservation of heritage is a collective responsibility, and "an integral part of fostering human dialogue and building bridges between peoples." She added that cultural heritage forms a fundamental element of community identity, and lays the foundations for peace and Kaabi also discussed the UAE's role in the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), launched in partnership with France. Through ALIPH, the UAE has supported more than 500 projects worldwide dedicated to protecting and restoring cultural heritage. These efforts, she explained, align with the UAE's broader vision of raising global awareness, regarding the value of heritage, in building a sustainable future for the next generation. The international partnerships also underscore the significance of funding and collaborative action in safeguarding humanity's shared Ghassan Salamé commended the UAE's contributions, and stressed the need for inclusive, community-driven approaches to heritage preservation."Restoring heritage should not be left to international organisations alone – it must be a joint effort that engages local people and institutions, especially in countries facing economic challenges," Salamé cited the success of the Mosul reconstruction as a model example of how global and local partners can work hand in hand, calling it 'a successful model of international-local collaboration in reviving heritage'. He also shared examples from Lebanon, including a youth-led initiative in Beirut to rehabilitate historic quarters after the 2020 port explosion, and community restoration efforts in Tripoli that have helped foster reconciliation. These case studies, he noted, illustrate the power of cultural projects in healing social divisions and rebuilding Al Kaabi and Dr. Salamé underscored that cultural heritage is more than physical structures; it is a source of identity, pride, and continuity for communities. Both sides agreed that safeguarding heritage in conflict zones not only preserves history but also unites people and restores normalcy. The panel concluded with a call for greater international cooperation and commitment to this cause. The speakers urged governments, international agencies and local stakeholders to integrate cultural heritage protection into peacebuilding policies, increase funding for restoration projects, and support grassroots initiatives. They affirmed that these concerted efforts will ensure that heritage sites can endure as symbols of resilience and bridges of peace for future generations.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Taliban change tune towards heritage sites in Afghanistan
In March 2001, the Taliban shocked the world by dynamiting the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan. Two decades later, they are back in power and claim to be making strides to preserve Afghanistan's millennia-old heritage, including pre-Islamic relics. Even months before their takeover in 2021 the Taliban called for the protection of ancient artefacts in the country, sparking scepticism among observers. They are 'part of our country's history, identity and rich culture', the authorities declared. Since their return to power and decades of war ended, archaeological finds — particularly related to Buddhism — have proliferated, with discoveries publicised by the authorities. In eastern Laghman province, niches carved into rocks in Gowarjan village and carved Brahmi inscriptions have been found. 'It is said that Afghan history goes back 5,000 years — these ancient sites prove it; people lived here,' said Mohammed Yaqoub Ayoubi, head of the provincial culture and tourism department. 'I think the Taliban have understood how much the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas damaged their reputation,' said Valery Freland, director of the ALIPH foundation, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage.
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Uzbekistan eyes UAE collaboration at upcoming UNESCO Conference: Ambassador
22 Apr 2025 12:31 ABU DHABI (WAM) Abdulaziz Akkulov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE, said that ties between the UAE and Uzbekistan have seen rapid development in recent years, marked by strong cooperation in international organisations and joint preparations to host the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand later this remarks came during a dialogue session held on Monday at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, which focused on Uzbekistan's contributions to UNESCO initiatives and efforts to align with the UAE in advancing sustainable development session was attended by Director-General of the Academy, Nickolay Mladenov, along with senior officials from both ambassador said that the strategic partnership was formalised during the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan to the UAE in January 2025.'Uzbekistan and the UAE enjoy dynamic and mutually enriching cooperation in the cultural sphere, marked by a shared commitment to preserving heritage and fostering intercultural dialogue,' he ambassador also praised Uzbekistan's annual participation in the Sheikh Zayed Festival, where it showcases traditional arts and crafts through its national highlighted that leading museums in both countries are working together on joint exhibitions and professional exchanges. In March, Uzbekistan became the ninth member of ALIPH – the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas – a step he said reinforces joint efforts to safeguard cultural welcomed the launch of ALIPH's regional call for projects in April 2025 to protect Central Asia's heritage from climate threats, underscoring the active role of both Uzbekistan and the UAE in these also said that Uzbekistan is preparing to host the Second Summit of the Central Asian Countries and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, scheduled for May 5 in Samarkand. He noted that Samarkand, one of the world's oldest cities, has become a prominent international hub for conferences, tourism, and business, having hosted events such as the SCO Heads of State Summit (2022), the 25th Session of the UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly (2023) and the Central Asia–EU Summit (2025).
