The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.39, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
- Commends the State Party and the General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities in Yemen (GOPHCY), the community and the other concerned stakeholders of Shibam for their efforts to protect and conserve the property and to maintain communication with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, despite the very difficult conditions;
- Expresses its continuing concern at the damage caused to the property as a result of natural elements and the ongoing armed conflict, and that the property continues to be vulnerable, owing to the residual impact of previous flooding as well as the current security situation, ongoing social change and continuing lack of organizational support and resources for both heritage management and physical conservation;
- Notes the concerns expressed by the State Party that the ‘Shibam Oases Development Project’ does not meet the needs of the property and its residents and that consultation about the project has been inadequate, and reiterates its previous request that the State Party submit details of this project to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Encourages the State Party to continue its collaboration with the UNESCO Doha Office in the implementation of the “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen” project;
- Also requests the State Party to also submit the report ‘Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018 – 2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam’, and the reports on drainage, flooding and the restoration and maintenance of the historical palace of Sayoun, as well as full details regarding the proposed new government complex, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to the development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), as soon as the security situation in Yemen has improved;
- Urges all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, in particular the safeguarding of properties on the World Heritage List and those included in the Tentative List of Yemen, and also encourages all concerned stakeholders to unite for the preservation of cultural heritage in Yemen;
- Reiterates its previous calls for the international community to provide technical and financial support, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, for the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural heritage, adopted at the UNESCO Expert meeting in July 2015, including funding for capacity building and first-aid restoration and protection measures, and calls on the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to continue providing the State Party with technical assistance and support where needed;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020;
- Decides to retain Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.