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State of Conservation Old Walled City of Shibam 2021

Old Walled City of Shibam

Yemen
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
  • Civil unrest
  • Financial resources
  • Flooding
  • Human resources
  • War
  • Water (rain/water table)
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Financial resources
  • Human resources
  • Floods (issue previously reported as being resolved)
  • Poor maintenance (issue previously reported as being resolved)
  • Damage to historic buildings
  • Reduction in support and resources arising from political and socio-economic disturbances
  • Armed conflict situation since 2015
  • Threats from rain and floods
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Threats from natural elements
  • Lack of organizational support and material resources for conservation
  • Threats related to the armed conflict
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Not yet drafted

Corrective Measures for the property

Not yet identified

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Not yet identified

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2021

Total amount granted to Yemeni cultural properties: USD 194,836 from the European Union for damage assessments, capacity development and emergency stabilization of damaged buildings and protection of archaeological sites.

2018–2021: USD 12,074,096 from the European Union for the project: Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen (Sana’a, Shibam, Zabid and Aden)

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
Requests approved: 6 (from 1982-1999)
Total amount approved : 121,966 USD
1999 Exposition of the photographs of the architectures in ... (Approved)   166 USD
1998 Supplement for the handcraft centre in Shibam (Approved)   20,000 USD
1993 Emergency measures regarding the drainage system Shibam ... (Approved)   40,500 USD
1993 Financial contribution to organize an evaluation ... (Approved)   9,500 USD
1988 4 fellowships for specialists working on the World ... (Approved)   31,800 USD
1982 Elaboration of a plan for the installation of a waste ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2021**
2009 Report on the WHC Mission to Yemen, 21-31 January 2009
1997 Report on the WHC Mission to Yemen, November 1997
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021

On 1 February 2020, a report on the state of conservation of the property was provided by local technical actors, presenting the following information:

  • The residual impact from severe flooding and the ongoing challenges in Yemen, continue to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, with affected buildings in need of urgent intervention. Despite the insufficient resources, limited international support, and the deteriorating economic conditions, conservation efforts have continued, although these have not been sufficient to resolve the multiple threats to OUV;
  • There has been further damage to the inner courtyard and surrounding buildings of the Shibam Gate and to the historic wall that serves as a retaining wall for a large number of houses;
  • The risk of flooding continues, with no remedial action taken owing to lack of capacity and a shortfall in the emergency budget;
  • The Rehabilitation of the Shibam Oasis as part of the Landscape Buffer Zone was partly addressed by Shibam Oasis Development Project in 2010, which had a short implementation period and did not achieve its specific objectives of dual irrigation, protecting Shibam from flooding, and developing agricultural diversity;
  • A short summary has been provided of the components of the 'Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018 - 2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam', including activities such as awareness programmes, community and local authority participation, communication with international heritage organisations, workshops and meetings, traditional skills, and building restoration;
  • There has been ongoing communication with the World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Doha Office, in particular regarding implementation of the first phase of the European Union funded project: Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen;
  • The support of UNESCO is acknowledged and a call to international organizations has been reiterated to continue to provide financial and technical support to help preserve the authenticity and integrity of the property and to facilitate a long term process for its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2021

The security situation in Yemen, in combination with flood damage and threats, plus a general lack of maintenance and the organizational support and resources, continues to hamper effective heritage management and physical conservation works within the property. However, the efforts undertaken to do what is possible within available resources are acknowledged. The property is built of mud, located in a flood-prone area and remains at severe risk of major damage from natural elements and the effects of armed conflict, unless preventive measures are undertaken.

It is a matter of great regret that the ‘Shibam Oasis Development Project’ has been pursued, to the point where it is now regarded as unsuccessful, without referral to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, despite a previous request by the Committee. The Committee has also requested that the report ‘Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018 – 2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam’, which provides a management strategy for the property, also be submitted in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. Although some information about this report has been provided, neither the report itself, nor information on works undertaken at Siwan Palace and the government building, have been submitted.

The Shibam Infrastructure Project was able to renew and consolidate most of the infrastructure of historic Shibam including pavement, but could not be completed. Its rehabilitation remains important as infrastructure problems, especially related to water or sewage, can cause structural risks for the high-rise mudbrick houses of Shibam. 

The implementation of the European Union funded project Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen, which began in 2019 through the UNESCO Doha Office, is promoting livelihood opportunities for youth through urban regeneration, including the restoration of particular buildings in the World Heritage properties of the Old City of Sana’a, the Old Walled City of Shibam and the Historic Town of Zabid that have been damaged due to lack of maintenance, neglect, weathering factors and the ongoing conflict. Some rehabilitation works on the historic wall and the oasis were already completed and renovation works on historic houses have started after the July flooding. Unusual torrential rains in August 2020 resulted in further damage to 200 historic houses according to a rapid damages assessment.

For some years, there has been no reported progress in finalizing the draft National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016 – 2020, nor in the implementation by the State Party of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO expert meeting in July 2015.

The World Heritage Centre and UNESCO Doha Office have been coordinating efforts to support the State Party in the definition of the boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification for the property in line with paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines. The definition of boundaries is an important step towards ensuring the protection of the property. It is therefore crucial that these efforts are pursued, contributing to the submission of the respective proposals for review by the Advisory Bodies.

It remains necessary for a Reactive Monitoring mission to visit the property, as soon as the security situation allows, in order to assist in the identification of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and associated corrective measures and timeframe. Hence, close cooperation with UNESCO Doha Office, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies continues to be critical.

The Old Walled City of Shibam remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and it would be appropriate for the property to remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7A.27
Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) (C 192)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.40 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
  3. Commends the efforts of the local actors and community to protect and conserve the property, despite the very difficult conditions;
  4. Expresses its continuing concern about 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;
  5. Welcomes the initiation of the ‘Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen’ project, and encourages the continued collaboration with the UNESCO Doha Office in its implementation;
  6. Regrets that the ‘Shibam Oasis Development Project’ was not referred to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as previously requested by the Committee, and also regrets that this project does not appear to have fulfilled its aims of dual irrigation, protecting Shibam from flooding, and developing agricultural diversity;
  7. Requests the State Party to submit the report ‘Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018 – 2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam’, as well as full details regarding the works undertaken at Siwan Palace and the government building, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
  8. Also requests the State Party to report on progress with the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016 – 2020, and the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO expert meeting in July 2015;
  9. Also encourages the State Party to elaborate proposals for a boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification in close coordination with UNESCO Doha Office, and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to determining the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as soon as the security situation in Yemen allows;
  11. Continues to urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, especially sites on the World Heritage List and those included in the Tentative List of Yemen and appeals to all States Parties to cooperate in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347;
  12. Further encourages the State Party to consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
  13. Reiterates its previous calls to 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;
  14. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session;
  15. Decides to retain Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
44 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/21/44.COM/7A, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2.Add),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 44 COM 7A.28)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 44 COM 7A.29)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 44 COM 7A.32)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 44 COM 7A.35)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.39)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.40)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.41)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.42)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.43)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.45)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 44 COM 7A.5)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.55)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.52)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 44 COM 7A.6)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.7)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 44 COM 7A.8)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 44 COM 7A.10)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 44 COM 7A.47)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 44 COM 7A.11)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 44 COM 7A.12)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 44 COM 7A.13)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 44 COM 7A.14)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 44 COM 7A.15)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 44 COM 7A.48)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 44 COM 7A.1)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 44 COM 7A.2)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 44 COM 7A.3)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 44 COM 7B.56)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 44 COM 7A.30)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 44 COM 7A.49)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 44 COM 7A.17)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 44 COM 7A.16)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 44 COM 7A.36)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 44 COM 7A.37)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.50)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 44 COM 7A.33)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 44 COM 7A.53)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 44 COM 7A.18)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 44 COM 7A.19)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 44 COM 7A.20)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 44 COM 7A.21)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 44 COM 7A.22)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 44 COM 7A.23)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 44 COM 7A.4)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.51)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.54)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 44 COM 7A.31)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 44 COM 7A.38)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 44 COM 7A.25)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 44 COM 7A.26)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 44 COM 7A.27).
Read more
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7A.27

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.40 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
  3. Commends the efforts of the local actors and community to protect and conserve the property, despite the very difficult conditions;
  4. Expresses its continuing concern about 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;
  5. Welcomes the initiation of the ‘Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen’ project, and encourages the continued collaboration with the UNESCO Doha Office in its implementation;
  6. Regrets that the ‘Shibam Oasis Development Project’ was not referred to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as previously requested by the Committee, and also regrets that this project does not appear to have fulfilled its aims of dual irrigation, protecting Shibam from flooding, and developing agricultural diversity;
  7. Requests the State Party to submit the report ‘Conservation Status of Shibam Hadramout 2018 – 2019, Strategy for the Management of the Historic City of Shibam’, as well as full details regarding the works undertaken at Siwan Palace and the government building, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
  8. Also requests the State Party to report on progress with the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016 – 2020, and the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO expert meeting in July 2015;
  9. Also encourages the State Party to elaborate proposals for a boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification in close coordination with UNESCO Doha Office, and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to determining the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as soon as the security situation in Yemen allows;
  11. Continues to urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, especially sites on the World Heritage List and those included in the Tentative List of Yemen and appeals to all States Parties to cooperate in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347;
  12. Further encourages the State Party to consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
  13. Reiterates its previous calls to 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;
  14. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session in 2022;
  15. Decides to retain Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2019 Next 2023
Report year: 2021
Yemen
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)(v)
Danger List (dates): 2015-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2020) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2020
arrow_circle_right 44COM (2021)
Exports
Previous 2019 Next 2023

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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