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State of Conservation Ancient Villages of ... 2023

Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

Syrian Arab Republic
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Financial resources
  • Housing
  • Human resources
  • Illegal activities
  • Land conversion
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Military training
  • Quarrying
  • War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Before the conflict:

  • Legal framework (Protection Policy does not adequately integrate cultural landscapes)
  • Financial resources
  • Human resources
  • Housing (Development or infrastructure projects)
  • Management System/Management Plan (Management Plan still incomplete and lack of an Action Plan)

Since March 2011:

  • War (Destruction and damage due to the armed conflict)
  • Illegal activities (Use of ancient stones as building material, illegal constructions and excavations, use of the sites by internally displaced people)
  • Military training (Use of the sites by armed groups)
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Quarrying
  • Land conversion
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Destruction as well as ascertained and potential threats consequent to the armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011

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

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

Total amount provided to the six Syrian World Heritage properties: 200,000 euros by the Italian Government; for built, movable and intangible heritage: 2.46 million euros by the European Union, USD 170,000 by the Flemish Government, 63,000 euros by the Austrian Government, USD 200,000 by the German Government; for cultural heritage under conflict: USD 200,000 by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in Bahrain.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 1 (from 2007-2007)
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
2007 Assistance to the Directorate General of Antiquities ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

Since the start of the conflict in March 2011, the security situation has not allowed any missions to be undertaken to this World Heritage property

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 3 January 2022 and 24 January 2023, the State Party submitted state of conservation reports for the six Syrian World Heritage properties, which are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1348/documents/, and do not include updated information about the property and its state of conservation.

The State Party reports that the site is still mostly inaccessible owing to the ongoing presence of armed groups, and consequently, no further information could be provided.

In February 2023, reports were received from third parties about damage inflicted to the property as a result of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck south-eastern Türkiye near the Syrian border, and the subsequent aftershocks. The reports include information and photos about collapsed walls and/or ceilings, as well as cracks in walls at the archaeological parks of Jebel Zawiye, Jebel al-A’la, Jebel Barisha, Jebel Wastani and Jebel Sem’an, where, in particular, the collapse of an arch of the western basilica at Qal’at Sem’an is reported.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

See General Decision 45 COM 7A.46 of this Document on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic.

It is concerning that the property continues to be inaccessible, which prevents full detailed on-site assessment of the damage and overall state of conservation of the property.

It remains essential that these assessments are undertaken in detail as soon as the security situation allows, and the measures needed for ensuring the conservation and protection of the property are identified, which would, in due course, allow for the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and identification of an associated set of corrective measures.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7A.43
Ancient villages of Northern Syria (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 1348)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7A.21 and 44 COM 7A.24 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
  3. Taking into account Decision 45 COM 7A.46 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
  4. Expresses its great concern about the situation at the property, in particular the ongoing presence of armed groups, the additional damage resulting from the February 2023 earthquake, and the lack of detailed information on damage incurred;
  5. Calls again on all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any action that could cause further damage to the property, including through its use for military or other purposes;
  6. Also calls again on all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
  7. Reiterates the need for the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to be carried out as soon as the security situation allows, in order to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property;
  8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  9. Decides to retain Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
45 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/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
  2. Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, 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 45 COM 7A.51)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
  • Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
3.    Recalls that the following properties were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 18th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2023):
  • Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
  • Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
  • Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
Read more
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.43

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7A.21 and 44 COM 7A.24, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/Online, 2021),
  3. Taking into account Decision 45 COM 7A.46, on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
  4. the additional damage resulting from the February 2023 earthquake, and the lack of detailed information on damage incurred;
  5. Calls again on all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any action that could cause further damage to the property, including through its use for military or other purposes;
  6. Also calls again on all States Parties to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
  7. Reiterates the need for the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to be carried out as soon as the security situation allows, in order to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property;
  8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  9. Decides to retain Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2021
Report year: 2023
Syrian Arab Republic
Date of Inscription: 2011
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)(v)
Danger List (dates): 2013-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2022) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2022
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
Exports
Previous 2021

* : 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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